Compare towns
Appleton vs Surry vs Liberty vs Union
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 most renters (17.4% rent).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Liberty has the youngest population (median age 40.5).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Surry | Liberty | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,836 |
969Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
40.5±6.8Lowest 10% below ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
| Surry and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.7 ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.8%±2.8 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Surry 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
38.1% ME: 36.2% |
43.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Union 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 |
$74,508±$12k about the ME average |
$71,146±$15k 5% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
| Union and Surry 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 |
$296,300±$36kHighest about the ME average |
$229,600±$31kLowest 23% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Surry and Union 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 |
$969±$129 15% below ME |
$559±$193Lowest 51% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union 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 |
$1,903Lowest 37% below ME |
$2,434 20% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5 ME: 48.4% |
38.5%±42.4 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Surry 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% |
7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.1% ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
38 minHighest 56% above ME |
29 minLowest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5 ME: 15.9% |
14.4%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Surry Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.