Compare towns
Randolph vs Appleton vs Bradford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Randolph has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Bradford has the highest household income ($83k).
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 | Randolph | Appleton | Bradford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,610Highest |
1,360 |
1,254Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.6% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
49.7±8Highest 11% above ME |
| Bradford and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Bradford and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±1.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Randolph and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
19% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,574±$16k 11% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$82,955±$26kHighest 11% above ME |
| Bradford and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $174,300±$21kLowest 41% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$176,200±$15k 41% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,186±$207Highest 4% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$742±$392Lowest 35% below ME |
| Randolph and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,160Lowest 29% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,315 24% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.3%±8.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
87.5%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Bradford and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
86.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
39 minHighest 57% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.3%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.7%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Bradford 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.