Compare towns

Willimantic vs Appleton vs Masardis

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Willimantic has the most kids (36.5% under 18).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Masardis has the youngest population (median age 35.9).

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.

MeasureWillimanticAppletonMasardis
People
Population
200Lowest
1,360Highest
258
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+7.2%
ME: +2.6%
—
Median age
38.5±11.9
14% below ME
49.2±7.4Highest
10% above ME
35.9±13.2Lowest
20% below ME
Appleton and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
36.5%±11.4Highest
ME: 18.1%
15.3%±2.7
ME: 18.1%
9.3%±4.9Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Age 65+
25.5%±16.2
ME: 22.4%
26.1%±9.3Highest
ME: 22.4%
14.3%±3Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Appleton and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
15.1%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
34.1%Highest
ME: 36.2%
22.9%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±6.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
3.7%±2.4
ME: 5.8%
0.4%±4.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Willimantic and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$63,472±$52k
15% below ME
$53,618±$19kLowest
28% below ME
$67,650±$26kHighest
9% below ME
Masardis and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$131,700±$21k
56% below ME
$235,600±$33kHighest
21% below ME
$126,400±$51kLowest
57% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,104±$82
3% below ME
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,285
58% below ME
$3,588Highest
18% above ME
$914Lowest
70% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent —
85.4%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
66.7%±100Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Appleton and Masardis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
32.5%Highest
ME: 10.7%
9.7%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
11.2%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.2%
ME: 74.3%
82.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
97.1%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
9 yrs newer than ME
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
1976Lowest
1 yr older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
6% below ME
30 min
23% above ME
36 minHighest
45% above ME
Work from home
13.8%±13.9Highest
ME: 15.9%
11.1%±3.5
ME: 15.9%
0%±6.4Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Willimantic and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Appleton Public Schools —
High school 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.