Compare towns
Avon vs Appleton vs Strong vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Avon has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Bridgewater has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Avon | Appleton | Strong | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 359Lowest |
1,360Highest |
1,249 |
484 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5% ME: +2.6% |
-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.1±5.1Lowest 5% above ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
48.8±8 9% above ME |
| Appleton and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Avon and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±4.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bridgewater and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
18.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±4.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,125±$32k 16% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
$65,417±$15kHighest 12% below ME |
| Bridgewater and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $141,700±$42kLowest 52% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
$154,900±$78k 48% below ME |
| Appleton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $465±$30Lowest 59% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
$768±$116 33% below ME |
| Appleton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,469 52% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
$1,417Lowest 53% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38.9%±59.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Avon and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 71% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
22 minLowest 10% below ME |
| Work from home | 9.2%±8.1 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±5.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | — |
| High school 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.