Compare towns
Albion vs Strong vs China
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Albion has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
China has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).
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 | Albion | Strong | China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,204 |
1,249Lowest |
4,526Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±7.5Highest 18% above ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
40.9±5.9Lowest 9% below ME |
| Albion and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| China and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Albion and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
31.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| China and Albion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,361±$23k 17% below ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
$96,309±$12kHighest 29% above ME |
| China and Albion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,900±$31k 22% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
$240,000±$37kHighest 19% below ME |
| China and Albion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $920±$276 19% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,987 35% below ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
$2,535Highest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.2%±23.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Albion and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 36% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
30 minLowest 21% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±4.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Albion 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 | — | — | #27 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 18 |
| 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.