Compare towns
Hudson vs Appleton vs Peru vs Enfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hudson has the highest household income ($68k).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Peru has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Enfield has the shortest commute (27 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 | Hudson | Appleton | Peru | Enfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,305Lowest |
1,360 |
1,501Highest |
1,462 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4% ME: +2.6% |
-10.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.5±6.1Lowest 6% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
48±7.6 7% above ME |
49.8±5.4Highest 11% above ME |
| Enfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.5%±5.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±2.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
28%±5.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Enfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
24% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Hudson and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,933±$12kHighest 9% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
$62,667±$7k 16% below ME |
| Hudson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $157,300±$9k 47% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$178,100±$22k 40% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$307 5% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$723±$16 37% below ME |
$425±$422Lowest 63% below ME |
| Appleton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,543Lowest 49% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,799 41% below ME |
$2,152 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.3%±51.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
58.3%±64.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
95.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 24% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
27 minLowest 11% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.6%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 56 | RSU 31/MSAD 31 |
| 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.