Compare towns
Appleton vs Jefferson vs Levant vs Liberty
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%).
Jefferson has the most kids (28% under 18).
Levant has the most renters (18.6% rent).
Liberty has the most people working from home (14.4%).
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 | Jefferson | Levant | Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
2,647 |
3,069Highest |
969Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.1% ME: +2.6% |
+3.1% ME: +2.6% |
+2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
39.7±2.2 11% below ME |
40.5±6.8 10% below ME |
| Appleton and Liberty 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% |
28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.8%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson and Levant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
18.1%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.8%±2.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% ME: 36.2% |
27.6% ME: 36.2% |
21.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Jefferson and Appleton 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 |
$85,078±$17k 14% above ME |
$86,071±$22kHighest 15% above ME |
$71,146±$15k 5% below ME |
| Levant and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME |
$268,500±$27k 9% below ME |
$229,600±$31kLowest 23% below ME |
| Jefferson and Levant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,120±$130 about the ME average |
$1,370±$120Highest 20% above ME |
$559±$193Lowest 51% below ME |
| Levant and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,587 15% below ME |
$2,580 15% below ME |
$2,434Lowest 20% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.7%±14 ME: 48.4% |
38.5%±42.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Levant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
14.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
83.8% ME: 74.3% |
81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1995Highest 18 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
31 min 27% above ME |
38 minHighest 56% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±5.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.4%±8.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Liberty and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #45 of 133 in ME | #124 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Jefferson Public Schools | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.