Compare towns
Appleton vs Otis vs Smithfield 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%).
Otis has the most expensive homes ($283k median).
Smithfield has the most people working from home (22%).
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 | Otis | Smithfield | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
705Lowest |
856 |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.1% ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
54.7±3.1 22% above ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
47.5±8.9Lowest 6% above ME |
| Smithfield and Otis 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% |
16.6%±7.8 ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Strong and Otis 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% |
20.9%±8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Smithfield 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% |
34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.7% ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Smithfield 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 |
$101,250±$27k 35% above ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Smithfield and Otis 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 |
$282,500±$23kHighest 5% below ME |
$242,800±$15k 18% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,563±$734Highest 37% above ME |
$1,109±$358 about the ME average |
$920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
| Otis and Smithfield 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 |
$2,263 25% below ME |
$2,866 6% below ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
35.7%±100 ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Smithfield 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% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
42 minHighest 69% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield 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 | Otis 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 | 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.