Compare towns
Liberty vs Appleton vs Alna vs Industry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Liberty has the youngest population (median age 40.5).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Alna has the most expensive homes ($367k median).
Industry has the most affordable homes ($206k 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 | Liberty | Appleton | Alna | Industry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 969 |
1,360Highest |
818Lowest |
988 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.1% ME: +2.6% |
-15.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.5±6.8Lowest 10% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
40.7±10.5 9% below ME |
40.6±10.7 9% below ME |
| Appleton and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
32.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
24.4%±6.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Alna and Industry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.8 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.3%±6.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Industry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
2%±2.2 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 | $71,146±$15k 5% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$93,125±$16kHighest 25% above ME |
$63,056±$19k 16% below ME |
| Alna and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,600±$31k 23% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$367,400±$55kHighest 24% above ME |
$205,600±$31kLowest 31% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $559±$193Lowest 51% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$1,088±$176 4% below ME |
$1,049±$137 8% below ME |
| Appleton and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,434 20% below ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$3,667Highest 21% above ME |
$1,793Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±42.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±70.4 ME: 48.4% |
65.9%±38.2 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 | 14.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
2.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
86% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 min 56% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
41 minHighest 67% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.4%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
16.4%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Alna and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Appleton Public Schools | — | — |
| 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.