Compare towns
Appleton vs Cushing vs Brooks 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%).
Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Brooks has the most renters (25.4% rent).
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 | Cushing | Brooks | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,460Highest |
1,208Lowest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.1% ME: +2.6% |
-6.3% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
45.9±6.6Lowest about the ME average |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
| Appleton and Cushing 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% |
17.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Strong and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.5%±0.9 ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Strong 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% |
38.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.5% ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks 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 |
$83,500±$19kHighest 12% above ME |
$59,130±$10k 21% below ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Cushing and Brooks 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 |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
$196,700±$33k 34% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$1,116±$112 about the ME average |
$920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
| Cushing and Brooks 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 |
$3,944Highest 30% above ME |
$2,096 31% below ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Cushing 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% |
7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 5% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 13 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | 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.