Compare towns
Appleton vs Troy vs Somerville 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 the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Troy has the most people working from home (25.3%).
Somerville has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
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 | Somerville | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
984 |
837Lowest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-1.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.5%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 |
33.5±11.3Lowest 25% 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%±7 ME: 18.1% |
28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Somerville and Troy 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% |
13.7%±2.9Lowest 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% |
25.7% ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Troy 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 |
$44,583±$14kLowest 40% below ME |
$71,250±$15kHighest 5% below ME |
$47,557±$10k 36% below ME |
| Somerville 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±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$213,000±$31k 28% below ME |
$218,100±$41k 26% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Appleton and Somerville 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±$211 10% above ME |
$1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
$920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
| Somerville and Troy 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 |
$2,505 17% 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% |
65.7%±58.5 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Somerville 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% |
17% ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
86.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.8% ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1989 12 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 |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
25.3%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.9%±2.3Lowest 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 | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 12 | 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.