Compare towns
Appleton vs Limerick vs Searsmont 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 the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Limerick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Searsmont has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Newburgh has the most renters (18.8% rent).
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 | Limerick | Searsmont | Newburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
3,400Highest |
1,646 |
1,475 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
40.4±9.2Lowest 10% below ME |
44.5±9.8 about the ME average |
45.8±5.7 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Newburgh and Limerick 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% |
17.1%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31.6% ME: 36.2% |
29.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Searsmont and Newburgh 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 |
$101,172±$15kHighest 35% above ME |
$87,000±$20k 16% above ME |
$76,750±$10k about the ME average |
| Limerick and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$269,400±$29k 9% below ME |
$284,000±$31kHighest 4% below ME |
$244,600±$20k 18% below ME |
| Searsmont and Limerick 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 |
$1,758±$407Highest 54% above ME |
$940±$311Lowest 17% below ME |
$950±$219 17% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,520Lowest 17% below ME |
$2,788 8% below ME |
$2,748 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
41.4%±41.3 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% |
6.9% ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
89.8% ME: 74.3% |
90.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
38 minHighest 53% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.2%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±10.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Searsmont and Limerick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 71 | — |
| High school 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.