Compare towns
Appleton vs Brownville vs Milo 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%).
Brownville has the highest household income ($64k).
Milo has the most renters (32.2% rent).
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 | Brownville | Milo | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
983Lowest |
2,165Highest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.8% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
46.5±4.6 4% above ME |
43.9±7Lowest about the ME average |
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% |
19%±6.2 ME: 18.1% |
16.8%±4.1 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Strong and Brownville 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% |
28.1%±5.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Brownville 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 ME: 36.2% |
13.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.8% ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±3.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Brownville 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 |
$64,063±$15kHighest 14% below ME |
$56,875±$9k 24% below ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Brownville and Milo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$96,700±$22kLowest 67% below ME |
$97,100±$27k 67% below ME |
$183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
| Appleton and Strong 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 |
$1,057±$120 7% below ME |
$879±$400Lowest 23% below ME |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
| Appleton and Brownville 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 |
$1,250Lowest 59% below ME |
$1,450 52% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
26.2%±19.2 ME: 48.4% |
48.8%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Milo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
16.4% ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
77.7% ME: 74.3% |
67.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1955Lowest 22 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1971 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
37 min 49% above ME |
42 minHighest 70% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
6.8%±4.5 ME: 15.9% |
3.2%±2.1Lowest 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 | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 41/MSAD 41 | RSU 41/MSAD 41 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Penquis Valley Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.5 |
— |
| 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.