Compare towns
Appleton vs Jackson vs Strong vs Unity
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).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Unity has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Strong | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
567Lowest |
1,249 |
1,858Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below 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%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest 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%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest 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% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
| Jackson and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
| Appleton and Jackson 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 |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
$873±$73 23% 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 | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,651 13% below ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
$2,510 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Unity 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% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.4 |
| 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.