Compare towns
Appleton vs Smithfield vs Washburn
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%).
Smithfield has the most people working from home (22%).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k 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 | Smithfield | Washburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
856Lowest |
1,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-9.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
48.2±7.7Lowest 8% above ME |
| Smithfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
24%±3.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Smithfield 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% ME: 36.2% |
34.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Washburn 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 |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$56,196±$6k 25% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$242,800±$15kHighest 18% below ME |
$112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME |
| Smithfield and Appleton 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 |
$1,109±$358Highest about the ME average |
$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME |
| Smithfield 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 |
$2,866 6% below ME |
$1,571Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±24.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Smithfield 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% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 45/MSAD 45 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Washburn District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0 |
| 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.