Compare towns
Athens vs Appleton vs Starks
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 kids (21.7% under 18).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Starks has the highest household income ($64k).
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 | Starks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 791 |
1,360Highest |
556Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
46.7±9.4Lowest 4% above ME |
| Appleton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Athens and Starks 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% |
20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $50,750±$14kLowest 32% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$63,500±$8kHighest 15% below ME |
| Starks 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±$33k 48% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$1,063±$301 7% below ME |
| Appleton and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,355 55% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3Lowest 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% |
19.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 18% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.1%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Athens 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 | — |
| 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.