Compare towns
Washington vs Appleton vs Weston
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 the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Weston has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Weston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,624Highest |
1,360 |
275Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 48.2±6.7Lowest 8% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
55.1±14Highest 23% above ME |
| Weston and Appleton 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%±2.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.9%±7.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Appleton and Weston 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% |
21.8%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Weston 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% |
23.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±4.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,861±$17kHighest 20% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$58,942±$7k 21% below ME |
| Washington and Weston 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 |
$171,700±$26kLowest 42% 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±$322Lowest 9% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% 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 |
$1,500Lowest 51% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±62.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Weston and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.3% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 30% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.6%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±12.7Lowest 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 | — |
| High school 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.