Compare towns
Whitefield vs Appleton vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitefield has the most people working from home (13.5%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Chelsea has the most kids (23.3% 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 | Whitefield | Appleton | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,157 |
1,360Lowest |
2,823Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±5.2Highest 16% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
42.2±3.6Lowest 6% below ME |
| Whitefield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Chelsea and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.1%±4.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Whitefield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Whitefield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,875±$10k about the ME average |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$85,471±$10kHighest 14% above ME |
| Chelsea and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$24kHighest 18% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$182,300±$37kLowest 39% below ME |
| Whitefield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$126Lowest 21% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,373±$90Highest 21% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,366 22% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,313Lowest 24% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±22.1 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
15%±19.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
36 minHighest 48% above ME |
| Work from home | 13.5%±6.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
6%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Whitefield and Appleton 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 | — | — | #93 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 12 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 12 |
| 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.