Compare towns
Newburgh vs Appleton 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%).
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 | Carmel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,475 |
1,360Lowest |
2,941Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±5.7Lowest about the ME average |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
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%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.6%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Newburgh and Carmel 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% |
16.5%±5Lowest 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% |
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% |
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 |
$82,188±$22kHighest 10% above ME |
| Carmel and Newburgh 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 |
$256,800±$37kHighest 13% below ME |
| Carmel and Newburgh 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 |
$2,662Lowest 12% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±13.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest 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% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% 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 |
1996Highest 19 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%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Carmel 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 | — | — | #77 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 87/MSAD 23 |
| 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.

