Compare towns
Appleton vs Belfast vs Hope vs Strong
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belfast has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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 | Appleton | Belfast | Hope | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
6,986Highest |
1,748 |
1,249Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+4% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
60.6±3.1Highest 35% above ME |
44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
39.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Belfast and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% ME: 36.2% |
42.9% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Hope 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 |
$67,679±$9k 9% below ME |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$340,900±$34k 15% above ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Hope and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$962±$92 16% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
| Hope and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 18% above ME |
$4,145Highest 37% above ME |
$3,842 27% above ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
47.4%±14.4 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Belfast 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% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1971 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
22 min 13% below ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12%±6 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Hope 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 | — | #84 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 71 | Hope Public Schools | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | Belfast Area High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— | — |
| 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.