What stands out worked out from the figures below

Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).

Oakland has the most kids (23.8% under 18).

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	Oakland
People
Population	1,360Lowest	6,309Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-0.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME	40.2±6.9Lowest 10% below ME
	Appleton and Oakland 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%	23.8%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4%	18.2%±3.4Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Appleton and Oakland 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%	24.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8%
	Oakland 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	$77,813±$16kHighest 4% above ME
	Oakland 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±$33kLowest 21% below ME	$236,000±$23kHighest 20% below ME
	Oakland and Appleton 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	$939±$74Lowest 18% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,588Highest 18% above ME	$2,439Lowest 20% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	65.7%±14.7Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Appleton and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.7%Highest ME: 10.7%	8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 23% above ME	27 minLowest 8% above ME
Work from home	11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9%	8.4%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Appleton and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#23 of 133 in ME
School district	Appleton Public Schools	RSU 18
High school in town	None in town	Messalonskee High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	14.2
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.