Compare towns
Roxbury vs Appleton vs Perham vs Topsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Roxbury has the most affordable homes ($106k median).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Perham has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
Topsfield has the oldest population (median age 63.5).
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.
| Measure | Roxbury | Appleton | Perham | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 352 |
1,360Highest |
326 |
214Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
— | — |
| Median age | 59.8±3.4 33% above ME |
49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
53±12.9 18% above ME |
63.5±4.9Highest 42% above ME |
| Topsfield and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 6%±6.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
19.6%±8.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±10.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Perham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.6%±10.8 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±2.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
44.9%±12.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Topsfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.5% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
18.7% ME: 36.2% |
14.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±3.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±5.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,667±$34k 31% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$62,500±$22kHighest 16% below ME |
$48,125±$16kLowest 36% below ME |
| Perham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $105,800±$48kLowest 64% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$117,600±$9k 60% below ME |
$141,700±$32k 52% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $850Lowest 72% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,641 46% below ME |
$957 68% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
— |
| Appleton and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
2.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5% ME: 74.3% |
95.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 16% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
34 minHighest 39% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.2%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±7.2 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | — | East Range CSD |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.