Compare towns
Appleton vs Strong vs Wales
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).
Wales has the most kids (30.2% under 18).
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 | Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,249Lowest |
1,924Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
35.1±4.2Lowest 22% below 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% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
30.2%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
11%±2.2Lowest 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% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
15.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±3.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Wales 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 |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
$77,004±$5kHighest 3% above ME |
| Wales 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 |
$250,400±$28kHighest 16% below ME |
| Wales 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 |
$1,154±$64Highest about the ME average |
| Wales 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 |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
$2,578 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
83.3%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Wales 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% |
25.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
91.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
28 minLowest 14% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
22.2%±13.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Wales 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 04 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oak Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.