Compare towns
Liberty vs Phillips vs Appleton vs Washington
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 highest household income ($71k).
Phillips has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
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 | Phillips | Appleton | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 969Lowest |
1,094 |
1,360 |
1,624Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.5±6.8Lowest 10% below ME |
49.7±3.7Highest 11% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
48.2±6.7 8% above ME |
| Phillips 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% |
20.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Phillips and Liberty 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% |
21.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Liberty 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% |
20.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Phillips and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,146±$15kHighest 5% below ME |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$59,861±$17k 20% below ME |
| Liberty and Washington 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 |
$190,800±$18kLowest 36% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$195,200±$36k 34% 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±$193 51% below ME |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$1,036±$322 9% below ME |
| Appleton and Washington 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 |
$2,582 15% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,286Lowest 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±42.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.8% ME: 10.7% |
17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 56% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
32 min 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.4%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Phillips and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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.