Compare towns
Minot vs Appleton vs Acton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Minot has the highest household income ($96k).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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.
| Measure | Minot | Appleton | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,794Highest |
1,360Lowest |
2,721 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49±6.1Lowest 9% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
| Acton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Minot and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
26.2%±4.9Highest 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+ | 25.9% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Minot and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,655±$17kHighest 28% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$78,750±$15k 5% above ME |
| Minot and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $294,900±$26k about the ME average |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$334,300±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
| Acton and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $878±$801Lowest 23% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
— |
| Appleton and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,602Lowest 14% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,680 12% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.7%±40.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest 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 | 6.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
30 min 23% above ME |
40 minHighest 64% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.8%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±8.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Acton and Minot 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 | #78 of 133 in ME | — | #43 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 16 | 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 |
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.