Compare towns
Appleton vs Lisbon vs Newburgh vs Sullivan
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).
Lisbon has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Sullivan has the shortest commute (26 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 | Lisbon | Newburgh | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
9,750Highest |
1,475 |
1,246Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+7.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.8% ME: +2.6% |
-1.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
38.4±2.9Lowest 14% below ME |
45.8±5.7 about the ME average |
47.1±15 5% above ME |
| Appleton and Sullivan 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% |
22.2%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.8%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
18%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Lisbon and Newburgh 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% |
16.2%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
22.5%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Sullivan 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% |
23.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.9% ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Sullivan and Lisbon 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 |
$77,819±$9kHighest 4% above ME |
$76,750±$10k about the ME average |
$59,643±$14k 20% below ME |
| Lisbon and Newburgh 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 |
$258,300±$26kHighest 13% below ME |
$244,600±$20k 18% below ME |
$222,000±$33kLowest 25% below ME |
| Lisbon and Newburgh 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 |
$979±$286 14% below ME |
$950±$219 17% below ME |
$883±$114Lowest 22% below ME |
| Appleton and Lisbon 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 |
$3,324 9% above ME |
$2,748 9% below ME |
$2,228Lowest 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
43.4%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
34.9%±23.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Lisbon 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% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.7% ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
74.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.2% ME: 74.3% |
85.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
29 min 17% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.1%±9.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Lisbon and Sullivan 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 | — | #60 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Lisbon Public Schools | — | RSU 24 |
| High school in town | None in town | Lisbon High School | — | Sumner Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.8Highest |
— | 10.5Lowest |
| 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.