Compare towns
Appleton vs Cherryfield vs Hope vs Strong
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cherryfield has the most renters (33.2% rent).
Hope has the highest household income ($87k).
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 | Cherryfield | Hope | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
809Lowest |
1,748Highest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
| Cherryfield 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 ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Strong 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% |
32.4%±9.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Cherryfield 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% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Hope 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 |
$37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$47,557±$10k 36% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$195,800±$53k 34% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$428±$107Lowest 62% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
| Hope and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 18% above ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Cherryfield 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% |
26.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±10.4 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Cherryfield Public Schools | Hope Public Schools | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| 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 |
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.