Compare towns

Appleton vs Windsor vs Liberty

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%).
Windsor has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Liberty has the most people working from home (14.4%).

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.

MeasureAppletonWindsorLiberty
People
Population
1,360
2,690Highest
969Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.2%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+2.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+2.3%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
49.2±7.4Highest
10% above ME
43.5±8
about the ME average
40.5±6.8Lowest
10% below ME
Appleton and Windsor 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%
23.2%±6.4Highest
ME: 18.1%
19.4%±4.6
ME: 18.1%
Windsor and Liberty 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%
14.3%±4.4Lowest
ME: 22.4%
21.8%±2.8
ME: 22.4%
Appleton and Liberty 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%
21%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
43.4%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±2.4Highest
ME: 5.8%
2%±1.6
ME: 5.8%
0.4%±1.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Appleton and Windsor 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
$63,178±$5k
15% below ME
$71,146±$15kHighest
5% below ME
Liberty and Windsor 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
$228,800±$22kLowest
23% below ME
$229,600±$31k
23% below ME
Appleton and Liberty 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
$1,265±$400Highest
11% above ME
$559±$193Lowest
51% below ME
Windsor 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
$2,160Lowest
29% below ME
$2,434
20% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
85.4%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
46.2%±31.6
ME: 48.4%
38.5%±42.4Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Appleton and Windsor 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%
7.5%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
14.8%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
89.1%Highest
ME: 74.3%
84.1%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
1986
9 yrs newer than ME
1981Lowest
4 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minLowest
23% above ME
36 min
45% above ME
38 minHighest
56% above ME
Work from home
11.1%±3.5
ME: 15.9%
6.5%±3Lowest
ME: 15.9%
14.4%±8.8Highest
ME: 15.9%
Liberty 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 — #44 of 133 in ME —
School district Appleton Public Schools RSU 12 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

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.