Compare towns
Warren vs Appleton vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warren has the youngest population (median age 42.2).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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 | Warren | Appleton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,932Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,616±$21k 8% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,700±$32kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$456Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,832Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.1%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #120 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Appleton Public Schools | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.