Compare towns

Appleton vs Temple vs Wilton

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%).
Temple has the most kids (32.8% under 18).
Wilton has the most people working from home (13.1%).

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.

MeasureAppletonTempleWilton
People
Population
1,360
824Lowest
3,862Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.2%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-0.2%
ME: +2.6%
-6.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
49.2±7.4Highest
10% above ME
34±14Lowest
24% below ME
46.1±6.6
about the ME average
Appleton and Wilton 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%
32.8%±7.2Highest
ME: 18.1%
22.2%±5
ME: 18.1%
Temple and Wilton 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%
15%±6.3Lowest
ME: 22.4%
27%±5.8Highest
ME: 22.4%
Wilton 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%Highest
ME: 36.2%
13.2%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
31.5%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±2.4
ME: 5.8%
2.5%±2.1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4%±2.5Highest
ME: 5.8%
Wilton 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
$56,087±$2k
25% below ME
$63,396±$23kHighest
15% below ME
Wilton and Temple 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
$210,200±$79k
29% below ME
$202,000±$30kLowest
32% below ME
Appleton and Temple 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
$1,458±$565Highest
28% above ME
$446±$274Lowest
61% below ME
Temple 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
$2,367
22% below ME
$2,344Lowest
23% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
85.4%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
73.3%±70.5
ME: 48.4%
52.5%±31.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Appleton and Temple 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%
10.2%
ME: 10.7%
14.6%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%
ME: 74.3%
92.7%Highest
ME: 74.3%
79.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
1966Lowest
11 yrs older than ME
1969
8 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
23% above ME
34 minHighest
37% above ME
28 minLowest
14% above ME
Work from home
11.1%±3.5
ME: 15.9%
7.5%±8.4Lowest
ME: 15.9%
13.1%±7.3Highest
ME: 15.9%
Wilton and Appleton 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 — — #121 of 133 in ME
School district Appleton Public Schools — RSU 09
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.