What stands out worked out from the figures below

Appleton has the most people working from home (11.1%).

Nobleboro has the highest household income ($100k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Appleton	Nobleboro
People
Population	1,360Lowest	1,906Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME	48.4±1.8Lowest 8% above ME
	Appleton and Nobleboro 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%	17.5%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1%
	Nobleboro and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4%	27.9%±3Highest ME: 22.4%
	Nobleboro and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%	37.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.1%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Nobleboro 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	$100,417±$14kHighest 34% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME	$352,600±$45kHighest 19% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME	$1,099±$231Lowest 4% below ME
	Appleton and Nobleboro 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	$3,049Lowest about the ME average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	51.3%±32.2Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Appleton and Nobleboro 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%	10.4%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	81.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 23% above ME	20 minLowest 17% below ME
Work from home	11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9%	5.6%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Appleton and Nobleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Appleton Public Schools	Nobleboro Public Schools
High school in town	None 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.