Compare towns
Appleton vs Sidney vs Newburgh
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).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Newburgh has the most renters (18.8% rent).
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 | Sidney | Newburgh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
4,790Highest |
1,475 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
43±5.5Lowest 4% below ME |
45.8±5.7 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Newburgh 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% |
23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.8%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and Newburgh 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% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Newburgh 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% |
33.5% ME: 36.2% |
29.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Newburgh 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 |
$83,488±$10kHighest 12% above ME |
$76,750±$10k about the ME average |
| Sidney and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$244,600±$20k 18% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
$950±$219Lowest 17% below ME |
| Sidney 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 |
$2,474Lowest 19% below ME |
$2,748 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Newburgh 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% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sidney 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 | — | #15 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 18 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.

