Compare towns
Stoneham vs Appleton vs Stow
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 youngest population (median age 49.2).
Stow has the most expensive homes ($326k 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 | Stoneham | Appleton | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 271Lowest |
1,360Highest |
535 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 60.6±7.1Highest 35% above ME |
49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
57±10.5 27% above ME |
| Stoneham and Stow 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%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
15.7%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Stow and Appleton 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% |
37.9%±17.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Stoneham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
33.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.8%±13.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.2Lowest 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±$27kHighest 15% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$42,204±$22kLowest 44% below ME |
| Stoneham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $226,200±$32kLowest 24% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$326,400±$42kHighest 10% above ME |
| 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 |
$3,304 9% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest 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%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.8% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 18% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
51 minHighest 109% above ME |
| Work from home | 40.7%±15.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±12 ME: 15.9% |
| Stoneham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.