Compare towns
Charlotte vs Appleton vs Meddybemps
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charlotte has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Appleton has the most people working from home (11.1%).
Meddybemps has the oldest population (median age 63.9).
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 | Charlotte | Appleton | Meddybemps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 377 |
1,360Highest |
139Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 48.6±3.1Lowest 8% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
63.9±4.2Highest 43% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±10.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
5%±21.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Charlotte and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±7.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
39.6%±15.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Meddybemps and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
14.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±10.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Meddybemps and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,813±$18kHighest 9% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$48,000±$13kLowest 36% below ME |
| Charlotte and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $140,800±$30kLowest 53% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$295,000±$73kHighest about the ME average |
| Meddybemps and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,000 34% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,206Lowest 60% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 85.4%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Meddybemps and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
7.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the ME average |
30 min 23% above ME |
31 minHighest 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 2%±2.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.4%±7.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Meddybemps are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | — |
| High school 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.