Compare towns
Appleton vs Limerick vs Strong vs Waldoboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Limerick has the highest household income ($101k).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Waldoboro has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Limerick | Strong | Waldoboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
3,400 |
1,249Lowest |
5,253Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
40.4±9.2Lowest 10% below ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
50.1±4.6Highest 12% above ME |
| Waldoboro and Appleton 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% |
18.7%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Strong and Limerick 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% |
17.1%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.5% ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Limerick 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 |
$101,172±$15kHighest 35% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
$69,107±$8k 8% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$269,400±$29k 9% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
$274,900±$39kHighest 7% below ME |
| Waldoboro and Limerick 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 |
$1,758±$407Highest 54% above ME |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
$348±$153Lowest 69% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,520 17% below ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
$2,861 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
20%±15.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Limerick 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% |
6.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
89.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
38 minHighest 53% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
25 minLowest 3% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.2%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Limerick 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 | — | — | — | #55 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Medomak Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 13.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.