Compare towns
Appleton vs Porter vs Wales
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 oldest population (median age 49.2).
Porter has the most affordable homes ($226k median).
Wales has the most kids (30.2% 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 | Porter | Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,746 |
1,924Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
-0.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
40.9±7.9 9% below ME |
35.1±4.2Lowest 22% below ME |
| Appleton and Porter 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% |
16.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
30.2%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
11%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Porter 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% |
14%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
15.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±3.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Wales 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 |
$60,417±$9k 19% below ME |
$77,004±$5kHighest 3% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$226,100±$20kLowest 24% below ME |
$250,400±$28kHighest 16% below ME |
| Wales and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
— | $1,154±$64Highest about the ME average |
| Wales and Appleton 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 |
$1,841Lowest 39% below ME |
$2,578 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
43.9%±8.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
83.3%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.8% ME: 10.7% |
25.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
91.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
28 minLowest 14% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.5%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
22.2%±13.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Wales and Porter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 04 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Oak Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
| 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.