Compare towns
Appleton vs Moose River vs Willimantic 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 the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Moose River has the shortest commute (15 min average).
Willimantic has the most kids (36.5% under 18).
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 | Moose River | Willimantic | Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
248 |
200Lowest |
969 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | — | +2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
32.9±8.2Lowest 27% below ME |
38.5±11.9 14% below ME |
40.5±6.8 10% below ME |
| Appleton and Liberty 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% |
32.3%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
36.5%±11.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Willimantic and Moose River 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% |
8.5%±10.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.5%±16.2 ME: 22.4% |
21.8%±2.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Willimantic 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% |
14.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
15.1% ME: 36.2% |
43.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4%±6.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4%±6.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$76,324±$9kHighest about the ME average |
$63,472±$52k 15% below ME |
$71,146±$15k 5% below ME |
| Moose River 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 |
$144,900±$31k 51% below ME |
$131,700±$21kLowest 56% below ME |
$229,600±$31k 23% below ME |
| Appleton and Liberty 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 |
— | — | $559±$193Lowest 51% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$928Lowest 69% below ME |
$1,285 58% below ME |
$2,434 20% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
— | 38.5%±42.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Liberty 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% |
14.9% ME: 10.7% |
32.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
14.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.3% ME: 74.3% |
92.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
15 minLowest 39% below ME |
23 min 6% below ME |
38 minHighest 56% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
4.5%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.8%±13.9 ME: 15.9% |
14.4%±8.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Liberty and Willimantic 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 |
| High school 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.