Compare towns
Appleton vs Bristol vs Newburgh 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Bristol has the most expensive homes ($406k median).
Newburgh has the youngest population (median age 45.8).
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 | Bristol | Newburgh | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
2,917Highest |
1,475 |
1,249Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.9% ME: +2.6% |
+2.8% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
61±3.2Highest 36% above ME |
45.8±5.7Lowest about the ME average |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.8%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Strong and Newburgh 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% |
42.8%±8.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bristol 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% |
52.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.9% ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Newburgh 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 |
$100,750±$19kHighest 35% above ME |
$76,750±$10k about the ME average |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Bristol and Newburgh 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 |
$406,400±$54kHighest 37% above ME |
$244,600±$20k 18% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$1,051±$106 8% below ME |
$950±$219 17% below ME |
$920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
| Appleton and Bristol 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 |
$2,668 12% below ME |
$2,748 9% below ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
23.4%±19.2 ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Newburgh 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% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.7% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1971 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
25%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Bristol and Strong 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 | — | #16 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Bristol Public Schools | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| 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 | 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.