Compare towns
Washington vs Appleton vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most people working from home (14.6%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Peru has the most kids (20.8% 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 | Washington | Appleton | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,624Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,501 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±6.7 8% above ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
| Appleton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,861±$17k 20% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$66,827±$19kHighest 11% below ME |
| Peru and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,200±$36k 34% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
| Appleton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,036±$322 9% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
| Appleton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,286 25% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 30% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.6%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Washington and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.