Compare towns
Appleton vs Mercer vs Chapman 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).
Mercer has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
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 | Mercer | Chapman | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
718 |
388Lowest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
— | -7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME |
45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
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%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.1%±6.4 ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Mercer 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% |
25.9%±5.6 ME: 22.4% |
27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Chapman 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman 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 |
$71,107±$2k 5% below ME |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$238,500±$32kHighest 20% below ME |
$185,700±$22k 37% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Mercer and Appleton 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 |
$1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME |
— | $920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
| Mercer and Appleton 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 |
$1,970 35% below ME |
$1,850Lowest 39% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
18.5%±74 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Strong 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% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.1% ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 6% below ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
20.5%±8.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Mercer 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 | — | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school 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.