Compare towns
Acton vs Appleton vs Strong
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the highest household income ($79k).
Appleton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Strong has the most kids (19.5% 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 | Acton | Appleton | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Highest |
1,360 |
1,249Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
47.5±8.9Lowest 6% above ME |
| Acton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Strong and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Acton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15kHighest 5% above ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Acton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
| Appleton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680 12% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 64% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Acton 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 | #43 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| 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.