Compare towns
Appleton vs Limerick vs Somerville vs Liberty
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 the highest household income ($101k).
Somerville has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Liberty has the oldest housing (typical home built 1981).
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 | Somerville | Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
3,400Highest |
837Lowest |
969 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.5% ME: +2.6% |
+2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
40.4±9.2 10% below ME |
33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME |
40.5±6.8 10% below ME |
| Appleton and Liberty 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% |
18.7%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Somerville 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% |
17.1%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
13.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.8%±2.8 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% |
27.5% ME: 36.2% |
25.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Limerick 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 |
$71,250±$15k 5% below ME |
$71,146±$15k 5% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$269,400±$29kHighest 9% below ME |
$218,100±$41kLowest 26% below ME |
$229,600±$31k 23% below ME |
| Limerick 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 |
$1,758±$407Highest 54% above ME |
$1,583±$265 39% above ME |
$559±$193Lowest 51% below ME |
| Limerick and Somerville 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 |
$2,520 17% below ME |
$2,505 17% below ME |
$2,434Lowest 20% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±58.5 ME: 48.4% |
38.5%±42.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Somerville 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%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17%Highest ME: 10.7% |
14.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.8% ME: 74.3% |
84.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
38 min 53% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
38 minHighest 56% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.2%±6.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.4%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Limerick 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 12 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| 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.