Compare towns
Appleton vs Liberty vs Phillips
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 highest household income ($71k).
Phillips has the shortest commute (23 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 | Phillips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
969Lowest |
1,094 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
40.5±6.8Lowest 10% below ME |
49.7±3.7Highest 11% above ME |
| Phillips 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% |
19.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Phillips 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% |
21.3%±2.1Lowest 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% |
20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Phillips 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±$19k 28% below ME |
$71,146±$15kHighest 5% below ME |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
| Liberty and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$229,600±$31k 23% below ME |
$190,800±$18kLowest 36% below ME |
| Appleton and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$559±$193 51% below ME |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,434Lowest 20% below ME |
$2,582 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
38.5%±42.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14.8% ME: 10.7% |
17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
38 minHighest 56% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.4%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Phillips and Liberty 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 58/MSAD 58 |
| 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.