Compare towns
Appleton vs Liberty vs Steep Falls
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 oldest population (median age 49.2).
Liberty has the most people working from home (14.4%).
Steep Falls has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
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 | Steep Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
969Lowest |
1,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
40.5±6.8Lowest 10% below ME |
44.1±6.5 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Steep Falls 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% |
22.9%±9.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Steep Falls 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% |
9.7%±5.9Lowest 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% |
14.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Steep Falls 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 |
$80,280±$33kHighest 7% above ME |
| Steep Falls and Liberty 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 |
$243,400±$31kHighest 18% below ME |
| Steep Falls 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 |
$1,516±$1kHighest 33% above ME |
| Steep Falls 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 |
$2,434Lowest 20% below ME |
$3,273 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
38.5%±42.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
66.4%±36.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Steep Falls 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% |
7.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
38 minHighest 56% above ME |
31 min 25% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
14.4%±8.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
4%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Liberty and Appleton 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 | — |
| High school 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.