Compare towns
Avon vs Appleton vs Ripley vs Abbot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Avon has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Ripley has the highest household income ($65k).
Abbot has the most people working from home (23.1%).
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 | Avon | Appleton | Ripley | Abbot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 359Lowest |
1,360Highest |
436 |
584 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.1±5.1Lowest 5% above ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
47.7±5.3 6% above ME |
48.6±3.5 8% above ME |
| Appleton and Abbot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±6.5 ME: 18.1% |
6.5%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Avon and Ripley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±4.6 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.7%±4.6 ME: 22.4% |
16.3%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
19.4% ME: 36.2% |
13.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±4.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±6Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,125±$32k 16% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$64,821±$13kHighest 13% below ME |
$58,542±$24k 22% below ME |
| Ripley and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $141,700±$42kLowest 52% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$144,300±$33k 51% below ME |
$171,200±$36k 42% below ME |
| Appleton and Abbot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $465±$30Lowest 59% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,091±$281 4% below ME |
$1,111±$73Highest about the ME average |
| Abbot and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,469 52% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,393 54% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±73.7 ME: 48.4% |
6.7%±41.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Avon and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.9% ME: 10.7% |
16.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.7% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81% ME: 74.3% |
74.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 71% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
32 min 28% above ME |
27 minLowest 11% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.2%±8.1 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
23.1%±17.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Abbot and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | — | — |
| High school 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.