Compare towns
Liberty vs Perham vs Appleton vs Waldo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Perham has the most affordable homes ($118k median).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Waldo has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Perham | Appleton | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 969 |
326Lowest |
1,360Highest |
926 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.5±6.8 10% below ME |
53±12.9Highest 18% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
| Perham and Appleton 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% |
19.6%±8.5 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Waldo and Perham 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% |
24.5%±2.3 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Perham 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% |
18.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
36.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Perham 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 |
$62,500±$22k 16% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$71,458±$21kHighest 4% below ME |
| Waldo 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 |
$117,600±$9kLowest 60% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$208,000±$41k 30% below ME |
| Appleton and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $559±$193Lowest 51% below ME |
— | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,150±$691Highest about the ME average |
| Waldo and Appleton 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 |
$1,641 46% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±42.4 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Waldo 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% |
2.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 56% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
30 min 23% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.4%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±7.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Waldo 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 | Waldo-Region 7 |
| High school 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.