Compare towns
Brownfield vs Appleton vs Chesterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brownfield has the most expensive homes ($288k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Chesterville has the most kids (31.3% under 18).
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 | Brownfield | Appleton | Chesterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,830Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,397 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.9±6.8 11% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
37.8±4Lowest 16% below ME |
| Appleton and Brownfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
31.3%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Chesterville and Brownfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
15%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Brownfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,889±$5k 19% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$61,635±$10kHighest 18% below ME |
| Chesterville and Brownfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,500±$36kHighest 3% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$214,000±$40kLowest 28% below ME |
| Brownfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,617±$554Highest 42% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,088±$73Lowest 4% below ME |
| Brownfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,976 about the ME average |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,194Lowest 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.8%±43.7 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.8%±30.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Brownfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
86.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 44 minHighest 80% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Brownfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 72/MSAD 72 | Appleton Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.