Compare towns
Limerick vs Appleton vs China vs Dayton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Limerick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
China has the most homeowners (91.8%).
Dayton has the most expensive homes ($398k 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 | Limerick | Appleton | China | Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,400 |
1,360Lowest |
4,526Highest |
2,313 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.4±9.2Lowest 10% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
40.9±5.9 9% below ME |
42.1±5.5 6% below ME |
| Appleton and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
14.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.9% ME: 36.2% |
27.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Dayton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,172±$15k 35% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$96,309±$12k 29% above ME |
$113,750±$24kHighest 52% above ME |
| Dayton and Limerick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,400±$29k 9% below ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$240,000±$37k 19% below ME |
$398,200±$34kHighest 34% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,758±$407Highest 54% above ME |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
— | $1,215±$867 7% above ME |
| Limerick and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,520Lowest 17% below ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$2,535 17% below ME |
$3,872Highest 28% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Limerick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.8% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1990 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 53% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
30 minLowest 21% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.2%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±4.6 ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±3.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Dayton and Limerick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #27 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 18 | Dayton Public Schools |
| 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.