Compare towns
Appleton vs Temple vs Thorndike 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Temple has the most homeowners (92.7%).
Thorndike has the most people working from home (44.7%).
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 | Temple | Thorndike | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
824Lowest |
1,403Highest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
-13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
34±14 24% below ME |
19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above 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% |
32.8%±7.2 ME: 18.1% |
49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Thorndike and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
15%±6.3 ME: 22.4% |
11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 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% |
13.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.2% ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Temple 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 |
$56,087±$2k 25% below ME |
$78,438±$14kHighest 5% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$210,200±$79k 29% below ME |
$205,600±$88k 31% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Appleton and Temple 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 |
$1,458±$565Highest 28% above ME |
$836±$317Lowest 27% below ME |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
| Temple 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 |
$2,367 22% below ME |
$2,537 16% below ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
73.3%±70.5 ME: 48.4% |
36%±62.5 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Temple 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% |
10.2% 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% |
92.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.2% ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1971 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
34 min 37% above ME |
36 minHighest 46% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±8.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Thorndike 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 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Mt View High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7 |
— |
| 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.