Compare towns
Industry vs Appleton vs Belfast
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Industry has the most kids (24.4% under 18).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Belfast has the most expensive homes ($341k 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 | Industry | Appleton | Belfast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 988Lowest |
1,360 |
6,986Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -15.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.6±10.7Lowest 9% below ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
60.6±3.1Highest 35% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 24.4%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±6.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
39.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Belfast and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
42.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Industry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,056±$19k 16% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$67,679±$9kHighest 9% below ME |
| Belfast and Industry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $205,600±$31kLowest 31% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$340,900±$34kHighest 15% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,049±$137 8% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$962±$92Lowest 16% below ME |
| Appleton and Industry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,793Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$4,145Highest 37% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.9%±38.2 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
47.4%±14.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Industry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 67% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
22 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 7.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
12%±6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Belfast and Appleton 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 | — | — | #84 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 71 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Belfast Area High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
| 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.