Compare towns
Appleton vs Kennebunk vs Newburgh
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%).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Newburgh has the youngest population (median age 45.8).
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 | Kennebunk | Newburgh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
11,820Highest |
1,475 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
+2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
54.6±3.3Highest 22% above ME |
45.8±5.7Lowest about the ME average |
| Kennebunk 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% |
17.7%±3 ME: 18.1% |
18.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Newburgh and Kennebunk 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% |
30%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Kennebunk 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% ME: 36.2% |
51.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Newburgh 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 |
$107,804±$8kHighest 44% above ME |
$76,750±$10k about the ME average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$487,700±$21kHighest 64% above ME |
$244,600±$20k 18% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,425±$290Highest 25% above ME |
$950±$219Lowest 17% below ME |
| Kennebunk and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 18% above ME |
$4,999Highest 65% above ME |
$2,748Lowest 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Newburgh 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% |
7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
32.5%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #9 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 21 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| 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.