Compare towns
Appleton vs Jefferson vs Strong vs Hope
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).
Jefferson has the most kids (28% under 18).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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 | Jefferson | Strong | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
2,647Highest |
1,249Lowest |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+5.1% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
| 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% |
28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson and Hope 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% |
18.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 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% |
27.6% ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Jefferson 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 |
$85,078±$17k 14% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
| Hope and Jefferson 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 |
$311,600±$35k 5% above ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
| Hope and Jefferson 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 |
$1,120±$130 about the ME average |
$920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
| Hope and Jefferson 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 |
$2,587 15% below ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Hope 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% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.8% ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Hope 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 | — | #45 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Jefferson Public Schools | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | Hope Public Schools |
| 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.