Compare towns
Wales vs Appleton vs Monmouth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wales has the most kids (30.2% under 18).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Monmouth has the most expensive homes ($274k 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 | Wales | Appleton | Monmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,924 |
1,360Lowest |
4,162Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 35.1±4.2Lowest 22% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
46.2±1.5 3% above ME |
| Appleton and Monmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 30.2%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19%±6.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Wales and Monmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Monmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
33.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wales and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,004±$5kHighest 3% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$74,648±$18k about the ME average |
| Wales and Monmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $250,400±$28k 16% below ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$274,100±$21kHighest 8% below ME |
| Monmouth and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$64 about the ME average |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,271±$175Highest 12% above ME |
| Monmouth and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,578Lowest 15% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$3,139 3% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.3%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
54.6%±46.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
9.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1986Lowest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 14% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 22.2%±13.9 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
23%±11Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Monmouth and Wales 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 | — | — | #51 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 04 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 02 |
| High school in town | Oak Hill High School | None in town | Monmouth Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.