Compare towns
Appleton vs Kittery 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%).
Kittery has the most expensive homes ($469k median).
Strong has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
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 | Kittery | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
10,473Highest |
1,249Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
46.8±2.3Lowest 4% above 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%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Strong and Appleton 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% |
26.9%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Kittery 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% |
46%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Kittery 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 |
$93,728±$14kHighest 25% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$468,500±$31kHighest 58% above ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,716±$224Highest 51% above ME |
$920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 18% above ME |
$4,518Highest 49% above ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.9 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Kittery 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% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
67.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1971 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22.7%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Kittery 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 | — | #17 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Kittery Public Schools | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.