Compare towns
Strong vs Topsfield 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 people working from home (18.5%).
Topsfield has the oldest population (median age 63.5).
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.
| Measure | Strong | Topsfield | Avon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,249Highest |
214Lowest |
359 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% ME: +2.6% |
— | — |
| Median age | 47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
63.5±4.9Highest 42% above ME |
47.1±5.1Lowest 5% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±10.4Lowest 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% |
44.9%±12.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.1%±4.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
14.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±5.3Lowest 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 |
$48,125±$16k 36% below ME |
$63,125±$32kHighest 16% below ME |
| Avon and Topsfield 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 |
$141,700±$32kLowest 52% below ME |
$141,700±$42kLowest 52% below ME |
| Strong and Topsfield 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 |
— | $465±$30Lowest 59% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,950Highest 36% below ME |
$957Lowest 68% below ME |
$1,469 52% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
— | 90%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Avon 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% |
13.1% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
95.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 6 yrs older than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 26% above ME |
34 min 39% above ME |
42 minHighest 71% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±8.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | East Range CSD | — |
| High school in town | None 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.