Compare towns
Warren vs Appleton vs Bowdoin vs Waldoboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warren has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Bowdoin has the most kids (19.1% under 18).
Waldoboro has the most renters (21.4% rent).
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 | Warren | Appleton | Bowdoin | Waldoboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932 |
1,360Lowest |
3,188 |
5,253Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5% ME: +2.6% |
+1.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 6% below ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
44.3±10 about the ME average |
50.1±4.6Highest 12% above ME |
| Waldoboro and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Bowdoin and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.4% ME: 36.2% |
29.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Warren and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,616±$21k about the ME average |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,239±$13kHighest 22% above ME |
$69,107±$8k 8% below ME |
| Bowdoin and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,700±$32kLowest 22% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$292,800±$71kHighest about the ME average |
$274,900±$39k 7% below ME |
| Bowdoin and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$456Highest about the ME average |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
— | $348±$153Lowest 69% below ME |
| Warren and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,832Lowest 7% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$3,375 11% above ME |
$2,861 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.1%±29.8 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
20%±15.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 8% below ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
25 min 3% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.6%±9.3 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Bowdoin and Warren 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 | #120 of 133 in ME | — | #28 of 133 in ME | #55 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Medomak Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 13.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.