Compare towns
Brooks vs Sullivan vs Appleton vs Jackson
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 affordable homes ($197k median).
Sullivan has the most kids (18% under 18).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Sullivan | Appleton | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
1,246 |
1,360Highest |
567Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.4% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
47.1±15 5% above ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
| Appleton and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
18%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Sullivan and Brooks 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% |
22.5%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Sullivan 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% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Sullivan 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 |
$59,643±$14k 20% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average |
| Jackson and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME |
$222,000±$33k 25% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
| Appleton and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,116±$112Highest about the ME average |
$883±$114 22% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
| Brooks and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096Lowest 31% below ME |
$2,228 27% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,651 13% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
34.9%±23.6 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Sullivan 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% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
26 min 7% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Jackson and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 24 | Appleton Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Sumner Memorial High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.5 |
— | — |
| 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.