Compare towns
Liberty vs Unity vs Appleton vs Jackson
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 most kids (19.4% under 18).
Unity has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Appleton | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 969 |
1,858Highest |
1,360 |
567Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.5±6.8 10% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
| Appleton and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Liberty and Jackson 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% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7 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% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
41.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,146±$15k 5% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average |
| Jackson 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 |
$206,900±$28kLowest 30% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
| Appleton and Jackson 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 |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$629±$12 45% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,434Lowest 20% below ME |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,651 13% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±42.4 ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Unity 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% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 56% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.4%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Unity and Jackson 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 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | Appleton Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— | — |
| 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.