Compare towns
Somerville vs Appleton vs Freedom
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Somerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).
Appleton has the most people working from home (11.1%).
Freedom has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
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 | Somerville | Appleton | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 837 |
1,360Highest |
670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-1.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
40.1±2.7 10% below ME |
| Appleton and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Somerville and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$15kHighest 5% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$64,861±$12k 13% below ME |
| Somerville and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,100±$41k 26% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$190,600±$69kLowest 36% below ME |
| Appleton and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,505 17% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,328Lowest 23% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±58.5 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.1%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 12 | Appleton Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None 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.