Compare towns
Randolph vs Appleton vs Newburgh vs Howland
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%).
Newburgh has the highest household income ($77k).
Howland has the most kids (22% under 18).
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 | Newburgh | Howland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,610Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,475 |
1,367 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.6% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.8% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
45.8±5.7Lowest about the ME average |
47.6±10.2 6% above ME |
| Randolph and Appleton 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% |
18.8%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
22%±5.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Howland and Newburgh 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% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.8%±4.1 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% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.9% ME: 36.2% |
12%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.1%±1.9 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 | $66,574±$16k 11% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$76,750±$10kHighest about the ME average |
$49,297±$21kLowest 34% below ME |
| Newburgh 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±$21k 41% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$244,600±$20kHighest 18% below ME |
$150,100±$52kLowest 49% 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 | $1,186±$207Highest 4% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$950±$219 17% below ME |
$916±$246Lowest 20% 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 | $2,160 29% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,748 9% below ME |
$1,546Lowest 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.3%±8.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
29%±18.2 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 | 15.7% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.7% ME: 10.7% |
25.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.2% ME: 74.3% |
77.9% 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 |
1970 7 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.3%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±3.3 ME: 15.9% |
0%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 31/MSAD 31 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | Penobscot Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.