Compare towns
Stoneham vs Appleton vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoneham has the most people working from home (40.7%).
Appleton has the most kids (15.3% under 18).
Northfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Stoneham | Appleton | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 271 |
1,360Highest |
263Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 60.6±7.1 35% above ME |
49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
62.1±16.2Highest 39% above ME |
| Northfield and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 5.9%±7.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.4%±7.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Appleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 41%±17.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
39.2%±9.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Stoneham and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
40.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.8%±13.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Stoneham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,750±$27k 15% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$68,333±$52kHighest 9% below ME |
| Northfield and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $226,200±$32k 24% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$198,600±$64kLowest 33% below ME |
| Appleton and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$383Highest about the ME average |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
— |
| Stoneham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,426Lowest 53% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,773 42% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
— |
| Appleton and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
20.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
24 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 40.7%±15.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
3.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| 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.