Compare towns
Appleton vs Waldo vs Monroe vs Newburgh
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%).
Waldo has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Monroe has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Newburgh has the most expensive homes ($245k 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.
| Measure | Appleton | Waldo | Monroe | Newburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
926Lowest |
1,001 |
1,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
+2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
43.5±7 about the ME average |
45.8±5.7 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Newburgh 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% |
20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.8%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe and Waldo 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% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Monroe 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% |
36.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe and Newburgh 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 |
$71,458±$21k 4% below ME |
$81,300±$7kHighest 9% above ME |
$76,750±$10k about the ME average |
| Monroe and Newburgh 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 |
$208,000±$41kLowest 30% below ME |
$220,300±$57k 26% below ME |
$244,600±$20kHighest 18% below ME |
| Newburgh and Appleton 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 |
$1,150±$691 about the ME average |
$1,165±$152Highest about the ME average |
$950±$219Lowest 17% below ME |
| Monroe and Waldo 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 |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,207 27% below ME |
$2,748 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3 ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±13.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Waldo 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% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
11.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
87.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
32 minHighest 28% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Waldo and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Waldo-Region 7 | 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 | 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.