Compare towns

Strong vs Patten vs Avon

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 expensive homes ($184k median).
Patten has the most people working from home (28.7%).
Avon has the highest household income ($63k).

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.

MeasureStrongPattenAvon
People
Population
1,249Highest
1,154
359Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.5%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-13.4%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
—
Median age
47.5±8.9
6% above ME
57.8±3.5Highest
29% above ME
47.1±5.1Lowest
5% above ME
Patten and Strong 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%
11.3%±2.9Lowest
ME: 18.1%
21.7%±6.8Highest
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+
22%±4.1
ME: 22.4%
38.5%±3.3Highest
ME: 22.4%
20.1%±4.6Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
26.5%Highest
ME: 36.2%
25.1%
ME: 36.2%
15.4%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.6
ME: 5.8%
1.1%±1.1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
2.2%±4.1Highest
ME: 5.8%
Avon and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$47,557±$10kLowest
36% below ME
$51,484±$6k
31% below ME
$63,125±$32kHighest
16% below ME
Avon and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$183,900±$29kHighest
38% below ME
$127,600±$49kLowest
57% below ME
$141,700±$42k
52% below ME
Strong and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$920±$276Highest
19% below ME
$389±$99Lowest
66% below ME
$465±$30
59% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,950Highest
36% below ME
$1,199Lowest
61% below ME
$1,469
52% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
20.9%±52.4Lowest
ME: 48.4%
56%±64.1
ME: 48.4%
90%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
Avon and Patten 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%
23.2%Highest
ME: 10.7%
10.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.6%Highest
ME: 74.3%
82.5%
ME: 74.3%
78.7%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
6 yrs older than ME
1966Lowest
11 yrs older than ME
1987Highest
10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
26% above ME
28 minLowest
13% above ME
42 minHighest
71% above ME
Work from home
18.5%±9.8
ME: 15.9%
28.7%±19.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
9.2%±8.1Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Patten and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district RSU 58/MSAD 58 — —
High school in town None in town — —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.