Compare towns
Appleton vs Strong vs Wiscasset
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 kids (19.5% under 18).
Wiscasset has the most expensive homes ($325k 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 | Strong | Wiscasset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,249Lowest |
3,874Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
47.5±8.9Lowest 6% above ME |
48.8±6.3 9% above ME |
| Appleton and Wiscasset 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% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.8%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Strong and Appleton 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%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
28%±6.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Wiscasset 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% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Strong 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 |
$71,118±$37kHighest 5% below ME |
| Wiscasset 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 |
$325,200±$26kHighest 10% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,518±$485Highest 33% above ME |
| Wiscasset 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 |
$3,550 17% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
23.6%±15.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Wiscasset 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% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
21.4%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Wiscasset 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 | — | — | #108 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | Wiscasset Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Wiscasset Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.2 |
| 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.