Compare towns
Wales vs Appleton vs Porter
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 the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Porter has the most affordable homes ($226k 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 | Porter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,924Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,746 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 35.1±4.2Lowest 22% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
40.9±7.9 9% below ME |
| Appleton and Porter 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% |
16.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 11%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Porter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.6% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
14%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±1.7Lowest 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 |
$60,417±$9k 19% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $250,400±$28kHighest 16% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$226,100±$20kLowest 24% below ME |
| Wales and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$64Highest about the ME average |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
— |
| Wales and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,578 15% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,841Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.3%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
43.9%±8.7Lowest 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%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 14% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 22.2%±13.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.5%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Wales and Porter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 04 | Appleton Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Oak Hill High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | — |
| 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.