Compare towns
Appleton vs Durham vs Winterport 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 oldest population (median age 49.2).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Winterport has the youngest population (median age 42.3).
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 | Durham | Winterport | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
4,262Highest |
3,850 |
1,249Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.6% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
42.3±5.5Lowest 6% below ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
| Appleton and Strong 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% |
19.7%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Durham and Strong 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% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19%±4.8 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% |
34.8% ME: 36.2% |
39.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
7.5%±3.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Winterport and Durham 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 |
$99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$98,333±$21k 32% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Durham and Winterport 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 |
$322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME |
$283,000±$43k 5% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Durham and Winterport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
— | — | $920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
| Appleton and Strong 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 |
$3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$2,646 13% below ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
26.8%±25.4 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Winterport 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% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.7% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91% ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.4%±6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Durham and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #14 of 133 in ME | #53 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 05 | RSU 22 | 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.