Compare towns
Jay vs Warren vs Appleton vs Middletown Springs
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Warren has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Middletown Springs has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Jay | Warren | Appleton | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
4,932Highest |
1,360 |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
| Jay and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Warren and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$74,616±$21k 8% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$82,000±$12kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Middletown Springs and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$232,700±$32kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$262,200±$24kHighest 21% below U.S. |
| Middletown Springs and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$456 20% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,208±$438Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Middletown Springs and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$2,832Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,595Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.1%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Middletown Springs 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 | — | #120 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Appleton Public Schools | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None 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 |
U.S. 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.