Compare towns
Waldoboro vs Appleton vs Wilton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waldoboro has the most expensive homes ($275k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Wilton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Waldoboro | Appleton | Wilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,253Highest |
1,360Lowest |
3,862 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.1±4.6Highest 12% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
46.1±6.6Lowest about the ME average |
| Waldoboro and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Wilton and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
27%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Wilton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Wilton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,107±$8kHighest 8% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$63,396±$23k 15% below ME |
| Waldoboro and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,900±$39kHighest 7% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$202,000±$30kLowest 32% below ME |
| Waldoboro and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $348±$153Lowest 69% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$446±$274 61% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,861 6% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,344Lowest 23% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±15.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
52.5%±31.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
14.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 3% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
28 min 14% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.6%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
13.1%±7.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Wilton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #55 of 133 in ME | — | #121 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 09 |
| High school in town | Medomak Valley High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — |
| 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.