Compare towns
Appleton vs Monroe vs Prospect vs Searsmont
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%).
Monroe has the youngest population (median age 43.5).
Prospect has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Searsmont has the most people working from home (16.3%).
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 | Monroe | Prospect | Searsmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,001 |
923Lowest |
1,646Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
-1.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
43.5±7Lowest about the ME average |
45.2±7.5 about the ME average |
44.5±9.8 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Prospect 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% |
23.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
25.2%±10.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Prospect and Monroe 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% |
22.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
19.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Monroe 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% |
29.1% ME: 36.2% |
22.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Searsmont and Monroe 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 |
$81,300±$7k 9% above ME |
$81,250±$17k 9% above ME |
$87,000±$20kHighest 16% above ME |
| Searsmont and Monroe 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 |
$220,300±$57k 26% below ME |
$196,500±$19kLowest 34% below ME |
$284,000±$31kHighest 4% below ME |
| Searsmont 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 |
$1,165±$152Highest about the ME average |
$1,107±$61 about the ME average |
$940±$311Lowest 17% below ME |
| Monroe and Prospect 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 |
$2,207 27% below ME |
$1,979Lowest 35% below ME |
$2,788 8% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±42Lowest ME: 48.4% |
41.4%±41.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Monroe 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% |
11.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
88.8% ME: 74.3% |
90.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
32 min 28% above ME |
33 minHighest 34% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
6.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±10.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Searsmont and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — | RSU 71 |
| 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 | 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.