What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strong has the oldest population (median age 47.5).

Thorndike has the most kids (49.8% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Strong	Thorndike
People
Population	1,249Lowest	1,403Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.5%Highest ME: +2.6%	-13%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	47.5±8.9Highest 6% above ME	19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME
	Strong and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.5%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1%	49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Thorndike and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4%	11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.5%Highest ME: 36.2%	25.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8%	1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Strong and Thorndike 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	$78,438±$14kHighest 5% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME	$205,600±$88kHighest 31% below ME
	Thorndike and Strong 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	$836±$317Lowest 27% below ME
	Strong and Thorndike 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	$2,537Highest 16% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4%	36%±62.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Thorndike and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.9%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	87.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 26% above ME	36 minHighest 46% above ME
Work from home	18.5%±9.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Thorndike 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	RSU 03/MSAD 03
High school in town	None in town	Mt View High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.