Compare towns
Knox vs Appleton vs Morrill vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Knox has the most people working from home (12.3%).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Morrill has the highest household income ($74k).
Columbia has the most kids (24.2% 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 | Knox | Appleton | Morrill | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 825 |
1,360Highest |
914 |
529Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 41.1±7.9 8% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
39.8±6.1Lowest 11% below ME |
41.9±6.4 6% below ME |
| Appleton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.8%±4.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.2%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Columbia and Morrill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
25.9%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.2% ME: 36.2% |
21.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
9.1%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Columbia and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,821±$9k 13% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$74,250±$18kHighest about the ME average |
$56,667±$15k 24% below ME |
| Morrill and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $159,600±$26k 46% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$214,000±$18k 28% below ME |
$158,700±$19kLowest 46% below ME |
| Appleton and Morrill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$47Highest 21% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$975±$891 14% below ME |
$894±$162Lowest 22% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,610 47% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,472 19% below ME |
$1,226Lowest 60% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.3%±31.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
34.3%±45.5 ME: 48.4% |
61.9%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
6.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
89.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 22% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
29 minLowest 16% above ME |
31 minHighest 27% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
5.9%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Knox and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 71 | — |
| High school 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.