Compare towns
Appleton vs Dixmont vs Ogunquit 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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Dixmont | Ogunquit | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,207Lowest |
1,379Highest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+2.5% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
50.9±4.7 14% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
47.5±8.9Lowest 6% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
15.9%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Strong and Dixmont 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% |
19.4%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit 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% |
24.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit and Dixmont 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 |
$75,952±$14k about the ME average |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Dixmont 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 |
$190,700±$22k 36% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,348±$62Highest 18% above ME |
— | $920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 18% above ME |
$1,548Lowest 49% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.2%±70.1 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Dixmont 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% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.7% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%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 |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
35 minHighest 40% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±11.3 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Dixmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 19 | — | 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.