Compare towns
Jefferson vs Appleton vs Sebago vs Whitefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the most kids (28% under 18).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Sebago has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
Whitefield has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
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 | Jefferson | Appleton | Sebago | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,647Highest |
1,360Lowest |
2,073 |
2,157 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
40.7±3.9 9% below ME |
51.9±5.2Highest 16% above ME |
| Whitefield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.8%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
17.6%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson and Sebago are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.1%±4.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Whitefield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
32.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Jefferson and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,078±$17kHighest 14% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$78,438±$15k 5% above ME |
$73,875±$10k about the ME average |
| Jefferson and Sebago are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$298,000±$46k about the ME average |
$242,300±$24k 18% below ME |
| Jefferson and Sebago are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$130 about the ME average |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,533±$292Highest 35% above ME |
$895±$126Lowest 21% below ME |
| Sebago and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,587 15% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,543 16% below ME |
$2,366Lowest 22% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
53.3%±30.3 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±22.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Sebago are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
13.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
91.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
37 minHighest 52% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.5%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Sebago and Whitefield 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 | #45 of 133 in ME | — | — | — |
| School district | Jefferson Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | Sebago Public Schools | RSU 12 |
| 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 |
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.