Compare towns
Appleton vs Prospect vs Stetson 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Prospect has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Liberty has the most people working from home (14.4%).
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 | Prospect | Stetson | Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
923Lowest |
1,151 |
969 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.3% ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
45.2±7.5 about the ME average |
42.2±5.1 6% below ME |
40.5±6.8Lowest 10% below ME |
| Appleton and Prospect 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% |
25.2%±10.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.4%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Prospect and Stetson 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% |
19.8%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
14.2%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.8%±2.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Liberty 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% |
22.3% ME: 36.2% |
19.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Stetson 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 |
$81,250±$17kHighest 9% above ME |
$76,023±$28k about the ME average |
$71,146±$15k 5% below ME |
| Prospect and Stetson 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 |
$196,500±$19kLowest 34% below ME |
$205,700±$34k 31% 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±$82 3% below ME |
$1,107±$61Highest about the ME average |
$800±$377 30% below ME |
$559±$193Lowest 51% below ME |
| Prospect 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 |
$1,979 35% below ME |
$1,962Lowest 35% below ME |
$2,434 20% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±42Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.7%±42 ME: 48.4% |
38.5%±42.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Stetson 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% |
7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
14.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
1993 16 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
33 min 34% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
38 minHighest 56% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
6.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
14.4%±8.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Liberty 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 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school 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.