Compare towns
Ludlow vs Appleton vs Amity vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ludlow has the most affordable homes ($134k median).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Amity has the most kids (26.8% under 18).
Bridgewater has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
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 | Ludlow | Appleton | Amity | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 444 |
1,360Highest |
395Lowest |
484 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.1±5.8 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
44.5±12.2Lowest about the ME average |
48.8±8 9% above ME |
| Appleton and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
26.8%±5.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Amity and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
26.8%±5.7 ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bridgewater and Amity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.2% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
13.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
18.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,500±$21k 16% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$65,000±$26k 13% below ME |
$65,417±$15kHighest 12% below ME |
| Bridgewater and Amity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $133,900±$56kLowest 55% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$155,000±$57k 48% below ME |
$154,900±$78k 48% below ME |
| Appleton and Amity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $988±$111 13% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
— | $768±$116Lowest 33% below ME |
| Appleton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,655 45% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,102Lowest 64% below ME |
$1,417 53% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±94.3 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38.9%±59.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.2% ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 15% below ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
22 min 10% below ME |
| Work from home | 9.8%±8 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.2%±5.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±5.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | — | — |
| High school 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.