Compare towns
Limington vs Appleton vs Acton vs Steep Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Limington has the highest household income ($85k).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (18.2%).
Steep Falls has the most kids (22.9% 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 | Limington | Appleton | Acton | Steep Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,017Highest |
1,360Lowest |
2,721 |
1,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50±4.5 12% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
44.1±6.5Lowest about the ME average |
| Acton and Limington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±9.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Steep Falls and Limington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±5.7 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
26.2%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
9.7%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Acton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.2% ME: 36.2% |
14.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,675±$11kHighest 13% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$78,750±$15k 5% above ME |
$80,280±$33k 7% above ME |
| Limington and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,600±$33k about the ME average |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$334,300±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$243,400±$31k 18% below ME |
| Acton and Limington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,185±$121 4% above ME |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
— | $1,516±$1kHighest 33% above ME |
| Steep Falls and Limington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,852 6% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,680Lowest 12% below ME |
$3,273 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.2%±23.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
66.4%±36.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
7.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 40% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
40 minHighest 64% above ME |
31 min 25% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.1%±6.1 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±8.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
4%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Acton and Limington 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 | #70 of 133 in ME | — | #43 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Appleton Public Schools | Acton 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.