Compare towns
Mercer vs Appleton vs Perry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mercer has the youngest population (median age 43.4).
Appleton has the most renters (17.4% rent).
Perry has the most kids (24.1% 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 | Mercer | Appleton | Perry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 718Lowest |
1,360Highest |
744 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
45.5±11.4 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±6.4 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.1%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Perry and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.9%±5.6 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
21%±6.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,107±$2k 5% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$82,056±$4kHighest 10% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,500±$32kHighest 20% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$196,400±$13kLowest 34% below ME |
| Mercer and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
— |
| Mercer and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,970Lowest 35% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$3,132 3% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.5%±74Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
26 minLowest 6% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.5%±8.9 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
23.4%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Perry and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | Perry 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.