Compare towns
Appleton vs Carthage vs Weld 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 most renters (17.4% rent).
Carthage has the highest household income ($79k).
Weld has the oldest population (median age 64).
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 | Carthage | Weld | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
845 |
459Lowest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | -7.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
42.8±10.9Lowest 4% below ME |
64±6.7Highest 43% above ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.9%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Strong and Weld 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% |
10.7%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
44.4%±12.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Weld 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% |
13.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
42.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Strong 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 |
$79,107±$18kHighest 6% above ME |
$62,083±$11k 17% below ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Carthage and Weld 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 |
$144,300±$41kLowest 51% below ME |
$268,600±$17kHighest 9% below ME |
$183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
| Weld 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 |
$811±$262Lowest 29% below ME |
— | $920±$276 19% below ME |
| Appleton and Strong 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 |
$1,239Lowest 59% below ME |
$1,308 57% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±88Lowest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Strong 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% |
3.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.5% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.1% ME: 74.3% |
93.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1971 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
30 min 21% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10%±7.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±8.4 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Weld are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school 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.