Compare towns
Appleton vs Liberty vs Ogunquit vs Palermo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the most renters (17.4% rent).
Liberty has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Liberty | Ogunquit | Palermo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
969Lowest |
1,379 |
1,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
40.5±6.8Lowest 10% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
43.4±6.1 3% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Liberty and Palermo 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% |
21.8%±2.8 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit 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% |
43.4% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit 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 |
$71,146±$15k 5% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$89,095±$15k 19% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Palermo 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 |
$229,600±$31kLowest 23% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$259,700±$54k 12% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$559±$193Lowest 51% below ME |
— | $1,235±$1kHighest 8% above ME |
| Palermo 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 |
$2,434Lowest 20% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,506 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
38.5%±42.4 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Palermo 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% |
14.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.1% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
38 minHighest 56% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
31 min 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.4%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — | 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 | 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.