Compare towns
Liberty vs Sutton vs Appleton vs Alna
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Liberty has the most affordable homes ($230k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($130k).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Alna has the most kids (32.9% 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 | Liberty | Sutton | Appleton | Alna |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 969 |
2,239Highest |
1,360 |
818Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.5±6.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1 24% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
40.7±10.5 5% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
32.9%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sutton 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±$15k 12% below U.S. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$93,125±$16k 15% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,600±$31kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$362,600±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$367,400±$55kHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Alna and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $559±$193Lowest 60% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,088±$176 23% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,434Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,667 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±42.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±70.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Alna and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Kearsarge Regional School District | Appleton Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.