Compare towns
Winthrop vs Appleton vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Winthrop has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Winthrop | Appleton | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,191Highest |
1,360Lowest |
4,262 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.6±5.3 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
42.6±5.9Lowest 5% below ME |
| Appleton and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.7%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Winthrop and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.4%±5 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Durham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,470±$4k 16% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $294,800±$41k about the ME average |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME |
| Durham and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $892±$319Lowest 22% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
— |
| Appleton and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,506Lowest 15% above ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$3,781Highest 25% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.8%±22.4 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 23.1%±6.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Winthrop and Durham 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 | #12 of 133 in ME | — | #14 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Winthrop Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | Winthrop High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
— | — |
| 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.