Compare towns
Brooklin vs Appleton vs Beals vs Deer Isle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooklin has the most expensive homes ($339k median).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Beals has the youngest population (median age 48).
Deer Isle has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Brooklin | Appleton | Beals | Deer Isle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 869 |
1,360 |
498Lowest |
2,470Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.4% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±3.7 10% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
48±15.6Lowest 7% above ME |
52.6±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
| Deer Isle and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
16.1%±6.5 ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Brooklin and Beals 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%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
30.1%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Beals and Appleton 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% |
37.6% ME: 36.2% |
35.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±5.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooklin and Beals 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 |
$64,063±$14k 14% below ME |
$62,284±$15k 17% below ME |
| Brooklin and Beals 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 |
$256,700±$45k 13% below ME |
$308,300±$42k 4% above ME |
| Brooklin and Deer Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,236±$137 9% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$907±$378Lowest 20% below ME |
$1,909±$927Highest 68% above ME |
| Deer Isle and Brooklin 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 |
$2,580 15% below ME |
$1,890 38% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.5%±25 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
7.4%±71.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25.4%±17.9 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% ME: 10.7% |
10.8% ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.4% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.9% ME: 74.3% |
85.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
21 min 17% below ME |
20 minLowest 17% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.5%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±10.9 ME: 15.9% |
22%±9.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Deer Isle and Beals 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 | Beals Public Schools | Deer Isle-Stonington CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Deer Isle-Stonington High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.0 |
| 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.