Compare towns
Troy vs Appleton vs Burnham vs Sullivan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Troy has the most people working from home (25.3%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Burnham has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Sullivan has the youngest population (median age 47.1).
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 | Troy | Appleton | Burnham | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984 |
1,360Highest |
953Lowest |
1,246 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.3±13.6Highest 10% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
48.4±3.2 8% above ME |
47.1±15Lowest 5% above ME |
| Troy and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.8%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
18%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Troy and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27%±4.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
22.2%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.5%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Troy and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Sullivan and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $44,583±$14kLowest 40% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$59,261±$18k 21% below ME |
$59,643±$14kHighest 20% below ME |
| Sullivan and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,000±$31k 28% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$178,100±$43kLowest 40% below ME |
$222,000±$33k 25% below ME |
| Appleton and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,255±$211 10% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,308±$386Highest 15% above ME |
$883±$114Lowest 22% below ME |
| Burnham and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,752Lowest 42% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,897 38% below ME |
$2,228 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±44.5 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
60.9%±49 ME: 48.4% |
34.9%±23.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.4% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 50 minHighest 102% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
22 minLowest 13% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 25.3%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17%±10.9 ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Troy and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 24 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Sumner Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.