Compare towns
Exeter vs Appleton vs Bradford vs Dixmont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Bradford has the most kids (18.9% under 18).
Dixmont has the most people working from home (21.9%).
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 | Exeter | Appleton | Bradford | Dixmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,093Lowest |
1,360Highest |
1,254 |
1,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.2% ME: +2.6% |
+2.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
49.7±8 11% above ME |
50.9±4.7 14% above ME |
| Exeter and Dixmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.9%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Bradford and Dixmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±1.9 ME: 22.4% |
19.4%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
19% ME: 36.2% |
24.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Dixmont and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$82,955±$26k 11% above ME |
$75,952±$14k about the ME average |
| Exeter and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$176,200±$15k 41% below ME |
$190,700±$22k 36% below ME |
| Appleton and Dixmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $995±$386 13% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$742±$392Lowest 35% below ME |
$1,348±$62Highest 18% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,602 47% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,315 24% below ME |
$1,548Lowest 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
87.5%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.2%±70.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Bradford and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
86.8% ME: 74.3% |
89.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 43% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
39 minHighest 57% above ME |
35 min 40% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
8.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±11.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Dixmont 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 | — | RSU 19 |
| 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.