Compare towns
Strong vs Wade 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%).
Wade has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
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 | Wade | Avon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,249Highest |
244Lowest |
359 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% ME: +2.6% |
— | — |
| Median age | 47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
53.6±18.5Highest 20% above ME |
47.1±5.1Lowest 5% above ME |
| Wade 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% |
16.4%±6.7Lowest 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% |
34.8%±10.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.1%±4.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wade 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% |
33.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±4.6Lowest 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±$10k 36% below ME |
$41,818±$25kLowest 44% below ME |
$63,125±$32kHighest 16% below ME |
| Avon and Strong 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 |
$157,100±$109k 47% below ME |
$141,700±$42kLowest 52% below ME |
| Strong and Wade 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 |
$1,655 45% below ME |
$1,469Lowest 52% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 6 yrs older than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 26% above ME |
34 min 37% above ME |
42 minHighest 71% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.1%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±8.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Wade 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 Our Story | 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.