What stands out worked out from the figures below

Searsmont has the highest household income ($87k).

Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Searsmont	Appleton
People
Population	1,646Highest	1,360Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.5±9.8Lowest about the ME average	49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME
	Appleton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	15.3%±2.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Appleton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4%	26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4%
	Appleton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%	34.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8%	3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Searsmont and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,000±$20kHighest 16% above ME	$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME
	Searsmont and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$284,000±$31kHighest 4% below ME	$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME
	Searsmont and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$940±$311Lowest 17% below ME	$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME
	Appleton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,788Lowest 8% below ME	$3,588Highest 18% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.4%±41.3Lowest ME: 48.4%	85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Appleton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%	9.7%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988 11 yrs newer than ME	1988 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	30 minHighest 23% above ME
Work from home	16.3%±10.1Highest ME: 15.9%	11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Searsmont and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 71	Appleton Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.