Compare towns
Brooks vs Appleton vs Waldoboro vs Knox
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooks has the most people working from home (14.5%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Waldoboro has the most expensive homes ($275k median).
Knox has the most affordable homes ($160k 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 | Brooks | Appleton | Waldoboro | Knox |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
1,360 |
5,253Highest |
825Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.6% ME: +2.6% |
+0.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
50.1±4.6Highest 12% above ME |
41.1±7.9Lowest 8% below ME |
| Waldoboro and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Brooks and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.3%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.9% ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,130±$10k 21% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$69,107±$8kHighest 8% below ME |
$64,821±$9k 13% below ME |
| Waldoboro and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,700±$33k 34% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$274,900±$39kHighest 7% below ME |
$159,600±$26kLowest 46% below ME |
| Waldoboro and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,116±$112 about the ME average |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$348±$153Lowest 69% below ME |
$1,375±$47Highest 21% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096 31% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,861 6% below ME |
$1,610Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
20%±15.8 ME: 48.4% |
11.3%±31.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
8.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.6% ME: 74.3% |
80.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
25 min 3% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±7.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Brooks and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #55 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Medomak Valley High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.