Compare towns
Appleton vs Medford
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 most kids (15.3% under 18).
Medford has the most affordable homes ($88k median).
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 | Medford |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
222Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
50.5±8.8Highest 13% above ME |
| Medford and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
3.2%±11.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Appleton and Medford 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% |
20.7%±9.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Medford 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% |
10.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Medford 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 |
$65,476±$14kHighest 12% below ME |
| Medford 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±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$88,200±$27kLowest 70% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,250Lowest 59% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Medford 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% |
11.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
97.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
26 minLowest 6% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.7%±5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Medford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Schools | ||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | 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.