Compare towns
Appleton vs Limerick vs Waterboro
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%).
Waterboro has the most kids (22.5% 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 | Limerick | Waterboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
3,400 |
8,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
40.4±9.2Lowest 10% below ME |
42±3.1 6% below ME |
| Appleton and Waterboro 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% |
22.5%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Waterboro 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%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
14.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Limerick 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% ME: 36.2% |
24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Waterboro 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±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$101,172±$15kHighest 35% above ME |
$89,392±$16k 20% above ME |
| Limerick and Waterboro 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 |
$297,000±$23kHighest about the ME average |
| Waterboro and Limerick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,758±$407Highest 54% above ME |
$1,200±$461 5% above ME |
| Limerick and Waterboro 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 |
$2,520Lowest 17% below ME |
$2,772 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.2%±12.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.9% ME: 10.7% |
6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.8% ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
38 minHighest 53% above ME |
35 min 42% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.2%±6.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Limerick and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #80 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Massabesic High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5 |
| 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.