Compare towns
Appleton vs Jefferson vs Whitefield
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).
Whitefield has the most people working from home (13.5%).
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 | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
2,647Highest |
2,157 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.1% ME: +2.6% |
+4.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
51.9±5.2Highest 16% above ME |
| Whitefield 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% |
28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.6%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.1%±4.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Whitefield 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% |
27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
32.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Jefferson and Whitefield 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±$17kHighest 14% above ME |
$73,875±$10k about the ME average |
| Jefferson and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME |
$242,300±$24k 18% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,120±$130Highest about the ME average |
$895±$126Lowest 21% below ME |
| Jefferson and Appleton 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 |
$2,366Lowest 22% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±22.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.8% ME: 74.3% |
91.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.5%±6.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Whitefield 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 | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Jefferson Public Schools | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.