Compare towns
Appleton vs Island Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Island Falls has the most affordable homes ($108k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Appleton | Island Falls |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
768Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
50.7±10.6Highest 13% above ME |
| Island Falls and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±7.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Island Falls and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.3%±2.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Island Falls and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
12.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$56,328±$8kHighest 25% below ME |
| Island Falls and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$108,300±$25kLowest 63% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$636±$124Lowest 44% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,720Lowest 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
17.9%±51.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
20.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Schools | ||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.