Compare towns
Appleton vs Ogunquit vs Mercer
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 most renters (17.4% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Mercer has the most kids (20.1% 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.
| Measure | Appleton | Ogunquit | Mercer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,379Highest |
718Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.1%±6.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mercer and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.9%±5.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit 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% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$71,107±$2k 5% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Mercer 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$238,500±$32k 20% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
— | $1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME |
| Mercer and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 18% above ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,970Lowest 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
18.5%±74 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Mercer 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
92.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.5%±8.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.