Compare towns
Appleton vs Jackson vs Belfast vs Strong
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Belfast has the most expensive homes ($341k median).
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 | Jackson | Belfast | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
567Lowest |
6,986Highest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
60.6±3.1Highest 35% above ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Strong and Jackson 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% |
17.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
39.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Belfast 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% |
41.9% ME: 36.2% |
42.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Strong 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 |
$75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average |
$67,679±$9k 9% below ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Jackson and Belfast 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 |
$231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
$340,900±$34kHighest 15% above ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$962±$92 16% below ME |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
| Appleton and Belfast 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 |
$2,651 13% below ME |
$4,145Highest 37% above ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
47.4%±14.4 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.6% ME: 74.3% |
68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1971 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
22 minLowest 13% below ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
12%±6 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Jackson 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 | — | — | #84 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 71 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Belfast Area High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
— |
| 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.