What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brooklin has the most people working from home (16.5%).

Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brooklin	Appleton
People
Population	869Lowest	1,360Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.2±3.7 10% above ME	49.2±7.4 10% above ME
Kids under 18	16.3%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1%	15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Brooklin and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4%	26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4%
	Appleton and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.2%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8%	3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Brooklin and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,750±$8kHighest 8% below ME	$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME
	Brooklin and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$339,400±$90kHighest 14% above ME	$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME
	Brooklin and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,236±$137Highest 9% above ME	$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME
	Brooklin and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,792Lowest 41% below ME	$3,588Highest 18% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.5%±25Lowest ME: 48.4%	85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Appleton and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%	9.7%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.4%Highest ME: 74.3%	82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 4% above ME	30 minHighest 23% above ME
Work from home	16.5%±6.8Highest ME: 15.9%	11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Brooklin and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Brooklin 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

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.