Compare towns
Chesterville vs Appleton vs New Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chesterville has the most kids (31.3% under 18).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
New Sharon has the most affordable homes ($171k 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 | Chesterville | Appleton | New Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,397 |
1,360Lowest |
1,550Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.8±4Lowest 16% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
43.9±8.9 about the ME average |
| Appleton and New Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 31.3%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 15%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.8%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and New Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and New Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,635±$10k 18% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$63,889±$21kHighest 15% below ME |
| New Sharon and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $214,000±$40k 28% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$171,200±$21kLowest 42% below ME |
| Appleton and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,088±$73 4% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$961±$55Lowest 16% below ME |
| Appleton and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,194 28% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,889Lowest 38% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.8%±30.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
61%±38 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and New Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
9.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.4% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.7%±2.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and New Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 09 |
| 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.