Compare towns
Appleton vs Readfield vs Rye
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Readfield has the most homeowners (89.9%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Readfield | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
2,651 |
5,611Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
48.1±7.6Lowest 24% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Rye 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Readfield and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Readfield 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 34% below U.S. |
$86,504±$8k 7% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$326,400±$20k about the U.S. average |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Rye and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,392Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Readfield 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 | — | #20 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 38 | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.