Compare towns
Appleton vs Lubec vs Thomaston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Lubec has the most people working from home (26.3%).
Thomaston has the shortest commute (14 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 | Lubec | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,346Lowest |
2,769Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
59.3±4.5Highest 32% above ME |
58.1±6.6 30% above ME |
| Lubec and Thomaston 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% |
14.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Thomaston and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
41.2%±3.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
35.5%±8.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Lubec and Thomaston 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% |
32.6% ME: 36.2% |
30.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
6.2%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Lubec 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±$19k 28% below ME |
$52,375±$11kLowest 30% below ME |
$56,435±$13kHighest 24% below ME |
| Thomaston and Appleton 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 |
$188,700±$26kLowest 36% below ME |
$271,700±$10kHighest 8% below ME |
| Thomaston 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 |
$550±$204Lowest 52% below ME |
$1,262±$343Highest 11% above ME |
| Thomaston and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 18% above ME |
$2,039Lowest 33% below ME |
$4,487Highest 48% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.6%±25.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±23.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Thomaston 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% |
14.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.1% ME: 74.3% |
73.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1960 17 yrs older than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
14 minLowest 45% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
26.3%±12.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Lubec 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 | — | — | #99 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 85/MSAD 19 | RSU 13 |
| 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 |
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.