Compare towns
Appleton vs Phillips vs Castle Hill
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 expensive homes ($236k median).
Phillips has the most people working from home (16.8%).
Castle Hill has the most affordable homes ($145k median).
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 | Phillips | Castle Hill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
1,094 |
281Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
49.7±3.7 11% above ME |
57.8±15.8Highest 29% above ME |
| Castle Hill and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Phillips 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% |
21.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
44.8%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±5.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Phillips 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±$19k 28% below ME |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$54,250±$14kHighest 27% below ME |
| Castle Hill 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±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$190,800±$18k 36% below ME |
$145,300±$18kLowest 51% below ME |
| Appleton and Phillips 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 |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
$950±$574 17% below ME |
| Appleton and Castle Hill 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 |
$2,582 15% below ME |
$1,449Lowest 52% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33Lowest ME: 48.4% |
75%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Castle Hill 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% |
17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
23 min 8% below ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±9.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Phillips 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 58/MSAD 58 | — |
| High school in town | None 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.