Compare towns
Newfield 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
Newfield has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (18.2%).
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 | Newfield | Appleton | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,580 |
1,360Lowest |
2,721Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.8±8.1 18% above ME |
49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
| Acton and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Appleton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±6Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.2%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Newfield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,188±$20k 23% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$78,750±$15kHighest 5% above ME |
| Acton and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,100±$27k 7% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$334,300±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
| Acton and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,402Lowest 21% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,680 12% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100Lowest 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 | 10.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 49 minHighest 98% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
40 min 64% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.1%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±8.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Acton 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 | — | — | #43 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | 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.