Compare towns
Appleton vs Ogunquit vs Searsmont vs Sullivan
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%).
Searsmont has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Sullivan has the most kids (18% 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 | Searsmont | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,379 |
1,646Highest |
1,246Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.6% ME: +2.6% |
-1.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
44.5±9.8Lowest about the ME average |
47.1±15 5% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
18%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Sullivan 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% |
21%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.5%±2.9 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% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.6% ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4 ME: 5.8% |
| Searsmont and Sullivan 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 |
$87,000±$20k 16% above ME |
$59,643±$14k 20% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Searsmont 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$284,000±$31k 4% below ME |
$222,000±$33kLowest 25% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
— | $940±$311 17% below ME |
$883±$114Lowest 22% below ME |
| Appleton and Searsmont 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 |
$2,788 8% below ME |
$2,228Lowest 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
41.4%±41.3 ME: 48.4% |
34.9%±23.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Searsmont 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% |
6.6% 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% |
90.6% ME: 74.3% |
85.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±10.1 ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 71 | RSU 24 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Sumner Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.5 |
| 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.