Compare towns
Appleton vs Peru vs Newburgh 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k median).
Newburgh has the highest household income ($77k).
Sullivan has the most people working from home (12.6%).
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 | Peru | Newburgh | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,501Highest |
1,475 |
1,246Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.8% ME: +2.6% |
-1.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
48±7.6 7% above ME |
45.8±5.7Lowest about the ME average |
47.1±15 5% above ME |
| Appleton and Peru 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% |
20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.8%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
18%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Newburgh 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% |
21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.5%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Sullivan 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% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.9% ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Sullivan and Newburgh 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 |
$66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
$76,750±$10kHighest about the ME average |
$59,643±$14k 20% below ME |
| Newburgh and Peru 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 |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$244,600±$20kHighest 18% below ME |
$222,000±$33k 25% below ME |
| Newburgh 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 |
$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
$950±$219 17% below ME |
$883±$114 22% below ME |
| Appleton and Newburgh 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 |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,748 9% below ME |
$2,228 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
34.9%±23.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Newburgh 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% |
9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.7% ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±7.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Sullivan and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 56 | — | 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.