Compare towns
Appleton vs Strong vs Troy vs Newburgh
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%).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Troy has the most people working from home (25.3%).
Newburgh has the highest household income ($77k).
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 | Strong | Troy | Newburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,249 |
984Lowest |
1,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2% ME: +2.6% |
+2.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
49.3±13.6Highest 10% above ME |
45.8±5.7Lowest about the ME average |
| Troy and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.8%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Troy 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% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
27%±4.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Troy 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Troy and Newburgh 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 |
$47,557±$10k 36% below ME |
$44,583±$14kLowest 40% below ME |
$76,750±$10kHighest about the ME average |
| Newburgh and Appleton 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 |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
$213,000±$31k 28% below ME |
$244,600±$20kHighest 18% below ME |
| Newburgh 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 |
$920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,255±$211Highest 10% above ME |
$950±$219 17% below ME |
| Troy 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 |
$1,950 36% below ME |
$1,752Lowest 42% below ME |
$2,748 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.2%±44.5 ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Troy 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% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
17.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
86.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
50 minHighest 102% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
25.3%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Troy 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 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — |
| 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.