Compare towns
Charlotte vs Appleton vs Sebec vs Whiting
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 affordable homes ($141k median).
Appleton has the most renters (17.4% rent).
Sebec has the most people working from home (13.2%).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Sebec | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 377Lowest |
1,360Highest |
547 |
506 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 48.6±3.1Lowest 8% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
49.3±7.6 10% above ME |
50±5Highest 12% above ME |
| Whiting and Sebec are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±10.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.8%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±7.7 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
20.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±6.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Whiting 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
32% ME: 36.2% |
34.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±3.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,813±$18k 9% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$74,545±$37kHighest about the ME average |
$55,263±$2k 26% below ME |
| Sebec and Charlotte 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±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$233,000±$40k 21% below ME |
$214,200±$52k 28% below ME |
| Appleton and Sebec are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
— | $600±$333Lowest 47% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,000 34% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,810 40% below ME |
$1,728Lowest 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Whiting 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% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
97.6% ME: 74.3% |
93.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the ME average |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
22 minLowest 10% below ME |
| Work from home | 2%±2.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
13.2%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±2.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Sebec and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | — | Whiting Public Schools |
| High school 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.