Compare towns
Appleton vs Readfield vs Strong vs Wayne
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%).
Readfield has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Readfield | Strong | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
2,651Highest |
1,249 |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
0% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
47.5±8.9Lowest 6% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
| Wayne and Appleton 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% |
18.7%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Strong and Readfield 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% |
22.3%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne 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% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne 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 |
$86,504±$8k 16% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
| Wayne and Readfield 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 |
$326,400±$20k 10% above ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
| Wayne and Readfield 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 |
$1,125±$844Highest about the ME average |
$920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
| Readfield 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 |
$3,392 12% above ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Readfield 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% |
5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs 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 |
30 minLowest 20% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Readfield 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 | — | #20 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 38 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— | — |
| 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.