Compare towns
Athens vs Appleton vs Lee vs Burnham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most affordable homes ($153k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Lee has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Burnham has the most people working from home (17%).
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 | Athens | Appleton | Lee | Burnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 791Lowest |
1,360Highest |
925 |
953 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.7% ME: +2.6% |
-5.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.7±7.2Lowest 6% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
51.5±11.5Highest 15% above ME |
48.4±3.2 8% above ME |
| Lee and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±5 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.8%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.7 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
22.2%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
20.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Lee and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $50,750±$14k 32% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$59,261±$18kHighest 21% below ME |
| Burnham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$174,500±$25k 41% below ME |
$178,100±$43k 40% below ME |
| Appleton and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
— | $1,308±$386Highest 15% above ME |
| Burnham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,547 49% below ME |
$1,897 38% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
60.9%±49Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.5% ME: 10.7% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.6% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
22 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
17%±10.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Burnham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Athens Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | — |
| 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.