Compare towns
Appleton vs Liberty vs Palermo vs Waldo
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%).
Liberty has the oldest housing (typical home built 1981).
Palermo has the highest household income ($89k).
Waldo has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Palermo | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
969 |
1,473Highest |
926Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
40.5±6.8 10% below ME |
43.4±6.1 3% below ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
| Appleton and Palermo 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% |
19.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Waldo and Liberty 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% |
21.8%±2.8 ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±2 ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest 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% |
43.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Palermo 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 |
$89,095±$15kHighest 19% above ME |
$71,458±$21k 4% below ME |
| Palermo and Waldo 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±$31k 23% below ME |
$259,700±$54kHighest 12% below ME |
$208,000±$41kLowest 30% below ME |
| Palermo and Appleton 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 |
$559±$193Lowest 51% below ME |
$1,235±$1kHighest 8% above ME |
$1,150±$691 about the ME average |
| Palermo and Waldo 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 |
$2,434 20% below ME |
$2,506 17% below ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
38.5%±42.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100 ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Waldo 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% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.1% ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs 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 |
31 min 24% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.4%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Palermo and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 12 | Waldo-Region 7 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.