Compare towns
Hiram vs Appleton vs Bradley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hiram has the most expensive homes ($257k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Bradley has the shortest commute (23 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 | Hiram | Appleton | Bradley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,748Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±10.2Lowest 7% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
42.6±9.7 5% below ME |
| Appleton and Bradley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.9%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Bradley and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.5%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Bradley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Bradley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,813±$10k 16% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$76,667±$28kHighest about the ME average |
| Bradley and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,600±$42kHighest 13% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$201,800±$37kLowest 32% below ME |
| Hiram and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,070±$161Lowest 6% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$1,088±$325 4% below ME |
| Appleton and Bradley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,106 31% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,946Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24.1 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±22.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
4.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 28% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 8.6%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±7.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Bradley and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 55/MSAD 55 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 34 |
| High school in town | Sacopee Valley High Sch | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — |
| 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.