Compare towns
Strong vs Appleton vs Cushing vs Phillips
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Phillips has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
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 | Strong | Appleton | Cushing | Phillips |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,249 |
1,360 |
1,460Highest |
1,094Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.1% ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.5±8.9Lowest 6% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
49.7±3.7Highest 11% 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 | 19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Phillips and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.5% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
38.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Phillips and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,557±$10k 36% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$83,500±$19kHighest 12% above ME |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
| Cushing and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
$190,800±$18k 36% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $920±$276 19% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
| Cushing and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$3,944Highest 30% above ME |
$2,582 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33 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 | 13.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 26% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
23 min 5% below ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 13 | 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.