Compare towns
Appleton vs Troy vs Somerville
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 expensive homes ($236k median).
Troy has the most people working from home (25.3%).
Somerville has the most kids (28.8% 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 | Troy | Somerville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
984 |
837Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
49.3±13.6Highest 10% above ME |
33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME |
| Troy 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% |
20.7%±7 ME: 18.1% |
28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Somerville and Troy 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% |
27%±4.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
13.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Troy 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% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Troy 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±$19k 28% below ME |
$44,583±$14kLowest 40% below ME |
$71,250±$15kHighest 5% below ME |
| Somerville and Appleton 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 |
$213,000±$31kLowest 28% below ME |
$218,100±$41k 26% below ME |
| Appleton and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,255±$211 10% above ME |
$1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
| Somerville and Troy 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 |
$1,752Lowest 42% below ME |
$2,505 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
53.2%±44.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±58.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Somerville 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% |
17.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
17% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
86.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
50 minHighest 102% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
25.3%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 12 |
| 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.