Compare towns

Newburgh vs Appleton vs Brooks

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 highest household income ($77k).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Brooks has the most people working from home (14.5%).

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.

MeasureNewburghAppletonBrooks
People
Population
1,475Highest
1,360
1,208Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
ME: +2.6%
+7.2%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-6.3%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
45.8±5.7Lowest
about the ME average
49.2±7.4Highest
10% above ME
45.9±6.6
about the ME average
Appleton and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±3.6Highest
ME: 18.1%
15.3%±2.7Lowest
ME: 18.1%
17.1%±4.2
ME: 18.1%
Newburgh and Brooks 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%
17%±3.1Lowest
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%
27.5%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±2.7
ME: 5.8%
3.7%±2.4Lowest
ME: 5.8%
6.8%±3.5Highest
ME: 5.8%
Brooks and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$76,750±$10kHighest
about the ME average
$53,618±$19kLowest
28% below ME
$59,130±$10k
21% below ME
Newburgh and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$244,600±$20kHighest
18% below ME
$235,600±$33k
21% below ME
$196,700±$33kLowest
34% below ME
Newburgh and Appleton 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
$1,116±$112Highest
about the ME average
Brooks 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
$2,096Lowest
31% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.9%±13.9
ME: 48.4%
85.4%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
18%±17.3Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Appleton and Newburgh 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%
19.1%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.2%
ME: 74.3%
82.6%Highest
ME: 74.3%
74.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Lowest
8 yrs newer than ME
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
1986
9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
23% above ME
30 minHighest
23% 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%
14.5%±2.9Highest
ME: 15.9%
Brooks 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 03/MSAD 03
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.