Compare towns
Appleton vs Dresden vs Newburgh 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%).
Dresden has the oldest population (median age 55.1).
Newburgh has the youngest population (median age 45.8).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Dresden | Newburgh | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,645Highest |
1,475 |
1,249Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+2.8% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME |
45.8±5.7Lowest about the ME average |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
| Dresden and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
18.8%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Strong and Newburgh 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% |
24.8%±8 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.5% ME: 36.2% |
29.9% ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Newburgh 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 |
$74,844±$22k about the ME average |
$76,750±$10kHighest about the ME average |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Newburgh and Dresden 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 |
$240,100±$29k 19% below ME |
$244,600±$20kHighest 18% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Newburgh and Dresden 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 |
$1,194±$502Highest 5% above ME |
$950±$219 17% below ME |
$920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
| Dresden and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,500 18% below ME |
$2,748 9% below ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Newburgh 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% |
9.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.7% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
88.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 02 | — | 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.