Compare towns
Appleton vs Milo vs Sebec vs Liberty
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%).
Milo has the most affordable homes ($97k median).
Sebec has the most homeowners (97.6%).
Liberty has the most people working from home (14.4%).
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 | Milo | Sebec | Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
2,165Highest |
547Lowest |
969 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.6% ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
43.9±7 about the ME average |
49.3±7.6Highest 10% above ME |
40.5±6.8Lowest 10% below ME |
| Sebec and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.8%±4.1 ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Sebec and Liberty 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% |
18.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
21.8%±2.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% ME: 36.2% |
21.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
32% ME: 36.2% |
43.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±3.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Sebec 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 |
$56,875±$9k 24% below ME |
$74,545±$37kHighest about the ME average |
$71,146±$15k 5% below ME |
| Sebec and Liberty 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 |
$97,100±$27kLowest 67% below ME |
$233,000±$40k 21% below ME |
$229,600±$31k 23% below ME |
| Appleton and Sebec 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 |
$879±$400 23% below ME |
— | $559±$193Lowest 51% below ME |
| Appleton and Milo 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 |
$1,450Lowest 52% below ME |
$1,810 40% below ME |
$2,434 20% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
48.8%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38.5%±42.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Milo 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% |
16.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
67.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
97.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
42 minHighest 70% above ME |
30 minLowest 22% above ME |
38 min 56% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
3.2%±2.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.2%±10.6 ME: 15.9% |
14.4%±8.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Liberty and Sebec are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 41/MSAD 41 | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | None in town | Penquis Valley Middle/High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5 |
— | — |
| 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.