Compare towns
China vs Appleton vs Limerick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
China has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Limerick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | China | Appleton | Limerick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,526Highest |
1,360Lowest |
3,400 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±5.9 9% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
40.4±9.2Lowest 10% below ME |
| Appleton and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
| China and Limerick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,309±$12k 29% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$101,172±$15kHighest 35% above ME |
| Limerick and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,000±$37k 19% below ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$269,400±$29kHighest 9% below ME |
| Limerick and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,758±$407Highest 54% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,535 17% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,520Lowest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Limerick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 21% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
38 minHighest 53% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±4.6 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.2%±6.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Limerick and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #27 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 18 | 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.