Compare towns
Appleton vs Woolwich vs Brewer 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%).
Woolwich has the highest household income ($102k).
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Woolwich | Brewer | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
3,158 |
9,652Highest |
1,249Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.1% ME: +2.6% |
+2% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
55.8±5.5Highest 25% above ME |
40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
| Woolwich and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
15%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Brewer 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% |
33.9%±8.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Woolwich 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% |
52.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
35% ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Brewer 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 |
$102,175±$26kHighest 37% above ME |
$66,613±$9k 11% below ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$254,500±$59kHighest 14% below ME |
$245,300±$21k 17% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Woolwich and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
— | $1,086±$54 5% below ME |
$920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
| Appleton and Brewer 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 |
$2,433 20% below ME |
$3,374 11% above ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
64.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Woolwich 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% |
13.3% ME: 10.7% |
12.5% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1971 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Woolwich 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 | — | #92 of 133 in ME | #32 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Brewer Public Schools | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Brewer High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.0 |
— |
| 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.