Compare towns
Brooklin vs Lovell vs Rome vs Appleton
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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Lovell has the most people working from home (21.8%).
Rome has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.7%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
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 | Lovell | Rome | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 869Lowest |
1,353 |
1,215 |
1,360Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.4% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+13.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±3.7 10% above ME |
52.2±3.5Highest 17% above ME |
48.3±9.2Lowest 8% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
| Lovell and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
15.4%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Rome and Brooklin 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% |
26.5%±3.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.7%±9.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Lovell 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% |
36.1% ME: 36.2% |
39.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
6.3%±4.2 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±4.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooklin and Lovell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,750±$8k 8% below ME |
$80,625±$20kHighest 8% above ME |
$77,639±$25k 4% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
| Lovell and Rome 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 |
$295,000±$47k about the ME average |
$329,300±$36k 11% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
| Brooklin and Rome 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 |
$1,419±$178Highest 25% above ME |
$1,150±$56 about the ME average |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
| Lovell and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,792 41% below ME |
$1,480Lowest 51% below ME |
$1,829 40% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.5%±25Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.3%±29.3 ME: 48.4% |
54.2%±59.8 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Rome 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% |
10% ME: 10.7% |
10.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.4% ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
91.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% above ME |
31 minHighest 28% above ME |
30 min 21% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.5%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
21.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.4%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Lovell and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Brooklin Public Schools | RSU 72/MSAD 72 | — | Appleton Public Schools |
| 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.