Compare towns

Appleton vs Stetson vs Steuben

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%).
Stetson has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Steuben has the most affordable homes ($174k 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.

MeasureAppletonStetsonSteuben
People
Population
1,360
1,151Lowest
1,388Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.2%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-1.3%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
-0.2%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
49.2±7.4Highest
10% above ME
42.2±5.1
6% below ME
40.1±8.5Lowest
10% below ME
Appleton and Stetson 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%
22.4%±5.1Highest
ME: 18.1%
20.4%±5.4
ME: 18.1%
Stetson and Steuben 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%
14.2%±3.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
15.9%±1
ME: 22.4%
Appleton and Steuben 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%
19.8%
ME: 36.2%
18.9%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±2.4
ME: 5.8%
3.4%±2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
5.2%±1.4Highest
ME: 5.8%
Steuben 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
$76,023±$28k
about the ME average
$76,466±$4kHighest
about the ME average
Steuben and Stetson 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
$205,700±$34k
31% below ME
$173,900±$32kLowest
41% below ME
Appleton and Stetson 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
$800±$377
30% below ME
$678±$319Lowest
40% below ME
Appleton and Stetson 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
$1,962Lowest
35% below ME
$2,029
33% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
85.4%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
73.7%±42
ME: 48.4%
26.3%±87.8Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Appleton and Stetson 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%
10.4%Highest
ME: 10.7%
5.4%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
87.9%
ME: 74.3%
89.4%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988
11 yrs newer than ME
1993Highest
16 yrs newer than ME
1979Lowest
2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
23% above ME
32 minHighest
29% above ME
28 minLowest
14% above ME
Work from home
11.1%±3.5
ME: 15.9%
11%±5.6Lowest
ME: 15.9%
11.8%±6.5Highest
ME: 15.9%
Steuben 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 24
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.