Compare towns
Newburgh vs Appleton vs Bowdoin vs Carmel
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newburgh has the most renters (18.8% rent).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Bowdoin has the most expensive homes ($293k median).
Carmel has the shortest commute (25 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 | Newburgh | Appleton | Bowdoin | Carmel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,475 |
1,360Lowest |
3,188Highest |
2,941 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±5.7 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
44.3±10Lowest about the ME average |
46.4±4.5 4% above ME |
| Appleton and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.6%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Bowdoin and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
16.5%±5 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.4% ME: 36.2% |
17.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Newburgh and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,750±$10k about the ME average |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,239±$13kHighest 22% above ME |
$82,188±$22k 10% above ME |
| Bowdoin and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $244,600±$20k 18% below ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$292,800±$71kHighest about the ME average |
$256,800±$37k 13% below ME |
| Bowdoin and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $950±$219Lowest 17% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
— | $1,276±$187Highest 12% above ME |
| Carmel and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,748 9% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$3,375 11% above ME |
$2,662Lowest 12% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±38.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.7% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11% ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
87.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Bowdoin and Appleton 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 | — | — | #28 of 133 in ME | #77 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 87/MSAD 23 |
| 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 | 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.