Compare towns
Phillips vs Appleton vs Chapman vs Strong
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Phillips has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Chapman has the highest household income ($93k).
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 | Phillips | Appleton | Chapman | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,094 |
1,360Highest |
388Lowest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -7.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.7±3.7Highest 11% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
45.7±11.4Lowest about the ME average |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
| Phillips and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Chapman and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.8% ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
$47,557±$10k 36% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $190,800±$18k 36% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$185,700±$22k 37% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Appleton and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
— | $920±$276 19% 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 | $2,582 15% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,850Lowest 39% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 8% below ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
23 min 6% below ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school 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.