Compare towns

Rome vs Appleton vs Vienna

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rome has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.7%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Vienna has the youngest population (median age 42.8).

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.

MeasureRomeAppletonVienna
People
Population
1,215
1,360Highest
536Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13.7%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+7.2%
ME: +2.6%
+1.4%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
48.3±9.2
8% above ME
49.2±7.4Highest
10% above ME
42.8±5.5Lowest
4% below ME
Appleton and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.4%±6.3Highest
ME: 18.1%
15.3%±2.7
ME: 18.1%
15.1%±5.8Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Rome and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.7%±9.1
ME: 22.4%
26.1%±9.3Highest
ME: 22.4%
20.5%±4.3Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Appleton and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.1%Highest
ME: 36.2%
34.1%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
34.7%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±4.8Highest
ME: 5.8%
3.7%±2.4
ME: 5.8%
3.4%±3.1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Rome and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,639±$25kHighest
4% above ME
$53,618±$19kLowest
28% below ME
$75,481±$20k
about the ME average
Rome and Vienna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$329,300±$36kHighest
11% above ME
$235,600±$33kLowest
21% below ME
$276,400±$62k
7% below ME
Rome and Vienna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,150±$56Highest
about the ME average
$1,104±$82Lowest
3% below ME
—
Rome and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,829Lowest
40% below ME
$3,588Highest
18% above ME
$2,469
19% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±59.8
ME: 48.4%
85.4%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
28.6%±100Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Appleton and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.3%
ME: 10.7%
9.7%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
13.2%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.9%Highest
ME: 74.3%
82.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
91.8%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Lowest
9 yrs newer than ME
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
1987
10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minLowest
21% above ME
30 min
23% above ME
62 minHighest
150% above ME
Work from home
7.4%±3.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
11.1%±3.5Highest
ME: 15.9%
10.6%±5.1
ME: 15.9%
Appleton and Vienna 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.