Compare towns
Cherryfield vs Appleton vs Milbridge vs Oakfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cherryfield has the most renters (33.2% rent).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Milbridge has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Oakfield has the most affordable homes ($144k 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 | Cherryfield | Appleton | Milbridge | Oakfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 809 |
1,360Highest |
1,222 |
629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.1% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.6% ME: +2.6% |
-10.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
50.3±6.2 12% above ME |
57.7±6.3 29% above ME |
| Cherryfield and Oakfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±5.3 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.5%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Milbridge and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 32.4%±9.6 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.2%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
36.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Oakfield and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.7% ME: 36.2% |
10.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Oakfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$60,536±$16kHighest 19% below ME |
$46,378±$3k 38% below ME |
| Milbridge and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,800±$53k 34% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$240,400±$31kHighest 19% below ME |
$144,300±$46kLowest 51% below ME |
| Milbridge and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $428±$107Lowest 62% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$619±$186 46% below ME |
$592±$261 48% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,950 36% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,022 33% below ME |
$1,272Lowest 58% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.5%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
45.8%±22.6 ME: 48.4% |
21.6%±13.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 26.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
18.4% ME: 10.7% |
9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
85.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
69.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 22% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
18 minLowest 26% below ME |
19 min 25% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±10.4 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.6%±4.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Milbridge and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Cherryfield Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 37/MSAD 37 | — |
| High school in town | None 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.