Compare towns
Appleton vs Ogunquit vs Strong vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Topsham has the shortest commute (24 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 | Ogunquit | Strong | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,379 |
1,249Lowest |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
44.7±4Lowest about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Topsham and Strong 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit 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% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
50% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Topsham and Ogunquit 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
$91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Topsham 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
$360,800±$20k 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
— | $920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME |
| Topsham and Appleton 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 |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
$4,259 40% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Topsham 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.2 |
| 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.