Compare towns
Monticello vs Appleton vs Sumner vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Monticello has the most affordable homes ($126k median).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Sumner has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Bridgewater has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Monticello | Appleton | Sumner | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 674 |
1,360Highest |
845 |
484Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.7% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.7±6 18% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
48.8±8Lowest 9% above ME |
| Sumner and Monticello are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Sumner and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Monticello are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 9.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
18.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest 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 | $51,875±$13kLowest 31% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$65,417±$15kHighest 12% below ME |
| Bridgewater and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $125,800±$36kLowest 58% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
$154,900±$78k 48% below ME |
| Appleton and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $833±$434 27% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
— | $768±$116Lowest 33% below ME |
| Appleton and Monticello are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,200Lowest 60% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$1,417 53% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.5%±62.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
38.9%±59.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 1 yr older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
22 minLowest 10% below ME |
| Work from home | 7.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±5.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 10 | — |
| High school 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.