Compare towns
Appleton vs Madison vs Solon
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%).
Madison has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Solon has the most kids (17.2% 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 | Madison | Solon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
4,782Highest |
963Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.7% ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
45.9±5.4Lowest about the ME average |
| Madison and Appleton 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% |
14.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Solon and Appleton 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% |
25.1%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Madison 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% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Madison 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 |
$61,747±$11k 17% below ME |
$69,205±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
| Solon and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$187,600±$40k 37% below ME |
$183,600±$12kLowest 38% below ME |
| Appleton and Madison 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 |
$906±$247Lowest 20% below ME |
$915±$100 20% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,983 35% below ME |
$1,854Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| High school in town | None in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.