Compare towns
Appleton vs Braintree vs Strong vs Searsmont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Strong has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Searsmont has the most expensive homes ($284k 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 | Braintree | Strong | Searsmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,026Lowest |
1,249 |
1,646Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9 22% above U.S. |
44.5±9.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Strong and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
10%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Searsmont 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 34% below U.S. |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$87,000±$20kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Searsmont and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$217,700±$28k 35% below U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$284,000±$31kHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Searsmont 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 22% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$920±$276 35% below U.S. |
$940±$311 33% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,908Highest 25% above U.S. |
$1,950Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$2,788 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±10.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 71 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.