Compare towns
Appleton vs Long Island 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 the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Long Island has the most expensive homes ($551k median).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
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 | Long Island | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
249Lowest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
47.5±10.6Lowest 6% above ME |
47.5±8.9Lowest 6% above ME |
| Appleton and Long Island 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% |
18.1%±11.5 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Strong and Long Island 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% |
28.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Long Island 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% |
50.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±2.3Lowest 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 |
$91,250±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Long Island and Appleton 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 |
$551,100±$122kHighest 86% above ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$2,194±$226Highest 93% above ME |
$920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$3,357 11% above ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
88.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Long Island and Appleton 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% |
4.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME |
1971 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
27 minLowest 8% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22.8%±13Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Long Island and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Long Island Public Schools | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 3 photos → | 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.