Compare towns
Appleton vs Cushing vs Lamoine vs Strong
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Lamoine has the most people working from home (21.4%).
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 | Cushing | Lamoine | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,460 |
1,782Highest |
1,249Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-2.1% ME: +2.6% |
+7.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
49.6±7.3Highest 11% above ME |
47.5±8.9Lowest 6% above ME |
| Lamoine 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% |
17.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
15%±3.8Lowest 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%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.5%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Lamoine 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% |
34.9% ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Cushing 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±$19k 12% above ME |
$88,542±$15kHighest 18% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Lamoine and Cushing 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 |
$324,800±$43k 10% above ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Cushing and Lamoine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$1,174±$158 3% above ME |
$920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
| Cushing and Lamoine 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 |
$2,303 24% 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% |
23.3%±16.4 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.4%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 |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
23 min 5% below ME |
22 minLowest 11% below ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3 ME: 15.9% |
21.4%±5Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Lamoine and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 13 | Lamoine 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.