Compare towns

Prospect vs Appleton vs Frankfort

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Prospect has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Frankfort has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).

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.

MeasureProspectAppletonFrankfort
People
Population
923Lowest
1,360Highest
1,098
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.6%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+7.2%
ME: +2.6%
+9.5%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
45.2±7.5Lowest
about the ME average
49.2±7.4
10% above ME
50.2±5.8Highest
12% above ME
Frankfort and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
25.2%±10.7Highest
ME: 18.1%
15.3%±2.7Lowest
ME: 18.1%
15.8%±3.2
ME: 18.1%
Prospect and Frankfort are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.8%±1.7Lowest
ME: 22.4%
26.1%±9.3Highest
ME: 22.4%
21.4%±3.9
ME: 22.4%
Appleton and Frankfort are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.3%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
34.1%Highest
ME: 36.2%
31%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.6%±1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
3.7%±2.4Highest
ME: 5.8%
2.2%±1.5
ME: 5.8%
Appleton and Frankfort are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$81,250±$17kHighest
9% above ME
$53,618±$19kLowest
28% below ME
$80,000±$26k
7% above ME
Prospect and Frankfort are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$196,500±$19kLowest
34% below ME
$235,600±$33kHighest
21% below ME
$211,300±$60k
29% below ME
Appleton and Frankfort are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,107±$61Highest
about the ME average
$1,104±$82
3% below ME
$850±$299Lowest
25% below ME
Prospect and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,979
35% below ME
$3,588Highest
18% above ME
$1,926Lowest
37% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.3%±42
ME: 48.4%
85.4%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
0%±88Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Appleton and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.3%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
9.7%
ME: 10.7%
16.4%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.8%
ME: 74.3%
82.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
91.2%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1998Highest
21 yrs newer than ME
1988Lowest
11 yrs newer than ME
1991
14 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
34% above ME
30 minLowest
23% above ME
32 min
31% above ME
Work from home
6.2%±3.3Lowest
ME: 15.9%
11.1%±3.5Highest
ME: 15.9%
10.7%±4.7
ME: 15.9%
Appleton and Frankfort are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Appleton Public Schools —
High school 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.