Compare towns
Appleton vs Casco vs Castle Hill 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).
Casco has the most expensive homes ($356k median).
Castle Hill has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Strong has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
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 | Casco | Castle Hill | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
3,696Highest |
281Lowest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.6% ME: +2.6% |
— | -7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
52±3.3 16% above ME |
57.8±15.8Highest 29% above ME |
47.5±8.9Lowest 6% above ME |
| Castle Hill and Casco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
11.3%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±5.8 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| 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 ME: 22.4% |
26.3%±7.8 ME: 22.4% |
44.8%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.9% ME: 36.2% |
26.7% ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±5.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Casco 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 |
$69,313±$19kHighest 7% below ME |
$54,250±$14k 27% below ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Casco and Castle Hill 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 |
$355,500±$58kHighest 20% above ME |
$145,300±$18kLowest 51% below ME |
$183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,395±$184Highest 22% above ME |
$950±$574 17% below ME |
$920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$3,085 about the ME average |
$1,449Lowest 52% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
39.7%±35.5 ME: 48.4% |
75%±100 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Castle Hill 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% |
11% ME: 10.7% |
4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
26.6%±10Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±9.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Casco 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 | RSU 61/MSAD 61 | — | 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.