Compare towns
Appleton vs Phippsburg vs Brewer
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%).
Phippsburg has the highest household income ($108k).
Brewer has the most kids (20.9% 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 | Phippsburg | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
2,238 |
9,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
54.3±6.3Highest 21% above ME |
40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME |
| Phippsburg and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
11.5%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Brewer 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% |
34.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Phippsburg 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% |
37.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
35% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Brewer 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 |
$107,833±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
$66,613±$9k 11% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$335,800±$47kHighest 13% above ME |
$245,300±$21k 17% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$1,022±$346Lowest 10% below ME |
$1,086±$54 5% below ME |
| Appleton and Brewer 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 |
$2,034Lowest 33% below ME |
$3,374 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
35.5%±98.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Brewer 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% |
7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.8% ME: 74.3% |
59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
21 min 13% below ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Phippsburg and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #32 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Brewer Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Brewer High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.0 |
| 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.