Compare towns
Appleton vs Phillips vs Chapman vs Liberty
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%).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
Liberty has the youngest population (median age 40.5).
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 | Chapman | Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
1,094 |
388Lowest |
969 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | +2.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
49.7±3.7Highest 11% above ME |
45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
40.5±6.8Lowest 10% below ME |
| Phillips and Appleton 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% |
20.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Phillips 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% |
27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.8%±2.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Chapman 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% |
20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.8% ME: 36.2% |
43.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman and Phillips 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 |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
$71,146±$15k 5% below ME |
| Chapman and Liberty 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 |
$185,700±$22kLowest 37% below ME |
$229,600±$31k 23% below ME |
| Appleton and Liberty 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 |
— | $559±$193 51% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,582 15% below ME |
$1,850Lowest 39% below ME |
$2,434 20% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38.5%±42.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Phillips 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% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.1% 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 |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
23 min 6% below ME |
38 minHighest 56% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.4%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Phillips and Liberty 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 | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.