Compare towns
Appleton vs Sidney vs Standish 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 the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Standish has the highest household income ($105k).
Liberty has the most affordable homes ($230k 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 | Sidney | Standish | Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
4,790 |
10,662Highest |
969Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.7% ME: +2.6% |
+2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
43±5.5 4% below ME |
40.5±2.8Lowest 10% below ME |
40.5±6.8Lowest 10% below ME |
| Appleton and Sidney 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% |
16.4%±3.1 ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and Liberty 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%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest 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% |
33.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36% ME: 36.2% |
43.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
11.6%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$83,488±$10k 12% above ME |
$104,593±$15kHighest 40% above ME |
$71,146±$15k 5% below ME |
| Standish and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$336,000±$18k 13% above ME |
$229,600±$31kLowest 23% below ME |
| Sidney and Standish 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 |
$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
$983±$453 14% below ME |
$559±$193Lowest 51% 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 |
$2,474 19% below ME |
$3,005 about the ME average |
$2,434Lowest 20% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
57.4%±22.3 ME: 48.4% |
38.5%±42.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Standish 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% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
14.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
29 min 20% above ME |
38 minHighest 56% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
13.6%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
14.4%±8.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Liberty and Sidney 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 | #18 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 18 | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bonny Eagle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.5 |
— |
| 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.