What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lubec has the most people working from home (26.3%).

Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lubec	Appleton
People
Population	1,346Lowest	1,360Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	59.3±4.5Highest 32% above ME	49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME
	Lubec and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1%	15.3%±2.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Appleton and Lubec are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	41.2%±3.4Highest ME: 22.4%	26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%	34.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8%	3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Lubec and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$52,375±$11kLowest 30% below ME	$53,618±$19kHighest 28% below ME
	Appleton and Lubec are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$188,700±$26kLowest 36% below ME	$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME
	Appleton and Lubec are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$550±$204Lowest 52% below ME	$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,039Lowest 33% below ME	$3,588Highest 18% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.6%±25.6Lowest ME: 48.4%	85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Appleton and Lubec are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.7%Highest ME: 10.7%	9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	82.6%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	30 minHighest 23% above ME
Work from home	26.3%±12.5Highest ME: 15.9%	11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Lubec and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 85/MSAD 19	Appleton Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.