Compare towns

Limerick vs Bowdoin vs Appleton

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%).
Bowdoin has the most expensive homes ($293k median).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k 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.

MeasureLimerickBowdoinAppleton
People
Population
3,400Highest
3,188
1,360Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.2%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+2.5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+7.2%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
40.4±9.2Lowest
10% below ME
44.3±10
about the ME average
49.2±7.4Highest
10% above ME
Appleton and Bowdoin 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%
19.1%±6.2Highest
ME: 18.1%
15.3%±2.7Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Bowdoin and Limerick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.1%±3.6
ME: 22.4%
14.1%±4.7Lowest
ME: 22.4%
26.1%±9.3Highest
ME: 22.4%
Appleton and Limerick 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%
30.4%
ME: 36.2%
34.1%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±2.2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
2.5%±2.2
ME: 5.8%
3.7%±2.4Highest
ME: 5.8%
Appleton and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,172±$15kHighest
35% above ME
$91,239±$13k
22% above ME
$53,618±$19kLowest
28% below ME
Limerick and Bowdoin 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
$292,800±$71kHighest
about the ME average
$235,600±$33kLowest
21% below ME
Bowdoin and Limerick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,758±$407Highest
54% above ME
—
$1,104±$82Lowest
3% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,520Lowest
17% below ME
$3,375
11% above ME
$3,588Highest
18% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.8%±14.2
ME: 48.4%
0%±42.3Lowest
ME: 48.4%
85.4%±100Highest
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%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
11%Highest
ME: 10.7%
9.7%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.8%Highest
ME: 74.3%
84.7%
ME: 74.3%
82.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1994Highest
17 yrs newer than ME
1992
15 yrs newer than ME
1988Lowest
11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
53% above ME
32 min
29% above ME
30 minLowest
23% above ME
Work from home
15.2%±6.7Highest
ME: 15.9%
11.7%±7
ME: 15.9%
11.1%±3.5Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Limerick and Bowdoin 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 — #28 of 133 in ME —
School district — RSU 75/MSAD 75 Appleton Public Schools
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.