Compare towns
Appleton vs Stoneham vs Weld 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 most renters (17.4% rent).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (40.7%).
Weld has the most expensive homes ($269k median).
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 | Stoneham | Weld | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
271Lowest |
459 |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | — | -7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
60.6±7.1 35% above ME |
64±6.7Highest 43% above ME |
47.5±8.9Lowest 6% above ME |
| Weld and Stoneham 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% |
5.9%±7.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.9%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Strong and Weld 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% |
41%±17.8 ME: 22.4% |
44.4%±12.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Weld and Stoneham 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% |
37.8% ME: 36.2% |
42.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
14.8%±13.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Stoneham 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 |
$63,750±$27kHighest 15% below ME |
$62,083±$11k 17% below ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Stoneham and Weld 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 |
$226,200±$32k 24% below ME |
$268,600±$17kHighest 9% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Weld 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 |
$1,125±$383Highest about the ME average |
— | $920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
| Stoneham 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 |
$1,426 53% below ME |
$1,308Lowest 57% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
66.7%±100 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Stoneham 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% |
7.4% ME: 10.7% |
6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.8% ME: 74.3% |
93.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1971 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
30 min 21% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
40.7%±15.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±8.4 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Stoneham 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.