Compare towns

Wales vs Strong

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wales has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.5%).
Strong has the oldest population (median age 47.5).

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.

MeasureWalesStrong
People
Population
1,924Highest
1,249Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.5%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-7.5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
35.1±4.2Lowest
22% below ME
47.5±8.9Highest
6% above ME
Strong and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
30.2%±6Highest
ME: 18.1%
19.5%±3.5Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Age 65+
11%±2.2Lowest
ME: 22.4%
22%±4.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
15.6%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
26.5%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±3.3Highest
ME: 5.8%
2.1%±1.6Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Wales and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,004±$5kHighest
3% above ME
$47,557±$10kLowest
36% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$250,400±$28kHighest
16% below ME
$183,900±$29kLowest
38% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,154±$64Highest
about the ME average
$920±$276Lowest
19% below ME
Wales and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,578Highest
15% below ME
$1,950Lowest
36% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
83.3%±37.5Highest
ME: 48.4%
20.9%±52.4Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Wales and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
25.3%Highest
ME: 10.7%
13.9%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.4%Highest
ME: 74.3%
84.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
12 yrs newer than ME
1971Lowest
6 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
14% above ME
31 minHighest
26% above ME
Work from home
22.2%±13.9Highest
ME: 15.9%
18.5%±9.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Wales and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district RSU 04 RSU 58/MSAD 58
High school in town Oak Hill High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.9
—
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.