Compare towns
Steuben vs Appleton vs Gouldsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Steuben has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Gouldsboro has the most people working from home (15.8%).
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.
| Measure | Steuben | Appleton | Gouldsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,388 |
1,360Lowest |
1,615Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±8.5Lowest 10% below ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
60.2±5.2Highest 34% above ME |
| Gouldsboro and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
12.9%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Steuben and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
38.8%±6.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Gouldsboro and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Steuben and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,466±$4kHighest about the ME average |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$60,873±$7k 19% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $173,900±$32kLowest 41% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$276,800±$51kHighest 7% below ME |
| Gouldsboro and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $678±$319Lowest 40% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,298±$507Highest 14% above ME |
| Gouldsboro and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,029Lowest 33% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,305 24% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±87.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
80.8%±28.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Gouldsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 14% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
36 minHighest 46% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Gouldsboro and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 24 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 24 |
| High school in town | None 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.