Compare towns
Appleton vs Poland vs Newburgh 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).
Poland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.9%).
Newburgh has the most renters (18.8% rent).
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 | Poland | Newburgh | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
5,954Highest |
1,475 |
1,249Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.8% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
44.2±9.4Lowest about the ME average |
45.8±5.7 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% |
21.4%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.8%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Poland and Strong 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% |
17.8%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Strong 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% |
23.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.9% ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Newburgh and Poland 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 |
$85,557±$23kHighest 14% above ME |
$76,750±$10k about the ME average |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Poland and Newburgh 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 |
$283,600±$44kHighest 4% below ME |
$244,600±$20k 18% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Poland and Newburgh 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 |
$1,198±$128Highest 5% above ME |
$950±$219 17% below ME |
$920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
| Poland 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 |
$2,774 9% below ME |
$2,748 9% below ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
61.6%±30.7 ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11.7% ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
81.9% ME: 74.3% |
81.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Poland and Strong 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 | — | #81 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 16 | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | Poland Regional H S | — | None in town |
| 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.