Compare towns
Appleton vs Anson vs Pittston vs Strong
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Anson has the most affordable homes ($118k median).
Pittston has the highest household income ($87k).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Appleton | Anson | Pittston | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
2,331 |
3,093Highest |
1,249Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
46.7±6.2 4% above ME |
41.4±5.9Lowest 8% below 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 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±7.4 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±6.1 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+ | 34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26.7% ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±4.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Pittston and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$52,474±$21k 30% below ME |
$86,614±$18kHighest 16% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Pittston and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
$238,700±$66kHighest 20% below ME |
$183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
| Pittston and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$928±$62 19% below ME |
$1,080±$593 5% below ME |
$920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
| Appleton and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
$1,909 37% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
57.6%±34.6 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1972 5 yrs older than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
3.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Appleton 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 | — | — | #123 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | RSU 11/MSAD 11 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | Carrabec High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.