Compare towns
Appleton vs Solon 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%).
Solon has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
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 | Solon | Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
963Lowest |
969 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
40.5±6.8Lowest 10% below ME |
| Appleton and Solon 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% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Liberty and Solon 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% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
21.8%±2.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Solon 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% |
25%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Solon 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 |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
$71,146±$15kHighest 5% below ME |
| Liberty and Solon 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 |
$183,600±$12kLowest 38% 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±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$915±$100 20% below ME |
$559±$193Lowest 51% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,854Lowest 39% below ME |
$2,434 20% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38.5%±42.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
14.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
38 min 56% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest 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 74/MSAD 74 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | None 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.