Compare towns
Alna 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
Alna has the highest household income ($93k).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
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 | Alna | Appleton | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 818Lowest |
1,360Highest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±10.5Lowest 9% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
| Appleton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 32.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,125±$16kHighest 25% above ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $367,400±$55kHighest 24% above ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,088±$176 4% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
| Appleton and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,667Highest 21% above ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±70.4 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school 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.