Compare towns
Appleton vs Troy vs Pittston vs Strong
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Troy has the most people working from home (25.3%).
Pittston has the highest household income ($87k).
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 | Troy | Pittston | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
984Lowest |
3,093Highest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-1.2% ME: +2.6% |
+7.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
49.3±13.6Highest 10% above ME |
41.4±5.9Lowest 8% below ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
| 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% |
20.7%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±7.4 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 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% |
27%±4.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±6.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 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% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26.7% ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±4.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Pittston and Troy 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 |
$44,583±$14kLowest 40% below ME |
$86,614±$18kHighest 16% above ME |
$47,557±$10k 36% below ME |
| Pittston 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 |
$213,000±$31k 28% below ME |
$238,700±$66kHighest 20% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Pittston 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 |
$1,255±$211Highest 10% above ME |
$1,080±$593 5% below ME |
$920±$276Lowest 19% 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 |
$1,752Lowest 42% below ME |
$1,909 37% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
53.2%±44.5 ME: 48.4% |
57.6%±34.6 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Pittston 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% |
17.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
86.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
50 minHighest 102% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
25.3%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Troy 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 | — | — | #123 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 11/MSAD 11 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None 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.