Compare towns
Industry vs Jackson vs Appleton vs Monroe
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 affordable homes ($206k median).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Monroe has the highest household income ($81k).
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 | Jackson | Appleton | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 988 |
567Lowest |
1,360Highest |
1,001 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -15.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.6±10.7 9% below ME |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
43.5±7 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.4%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Industry and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±6.6 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Monroe 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% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
29.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe and Appleton 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 |
$75,167±$19k about the ME average |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$81,300±$7kHighest 9% above ME |
| Monroe and Jackson 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 |
$231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$220,300±$57k 26% below ME |
| Appleton and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,049±$137 8% below ME |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,165±$152Highest about the ME average |
| Monroe and Appleton 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 |
$2,651 13% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,207 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.9%±38.2 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8 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% |
13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86% ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
87.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 67% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
32 min 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Jackson and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.