Compare towns
Appleton vs Belgrade vs Danforth vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Belgrade has the most people working from home (20.4%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Dedham has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Appleton | Belgrade | Danforth | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
3,351Highest |
666Lowest |
1,656 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.9% ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
47.3±14.6 6% above ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
46.5±2.2Lowest 4% above ME |
| Danforth and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.6%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% ME: 36.2% |
49.1% ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$88,338±$13k 18% above ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
| Dedham and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$312,200±$44k 5% above ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
| Dedham and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$857±$108 25% below ME |
$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
| Dedham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 18% above ME |
$2,859 6% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9 ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% ME: 10.7% |
3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
93.8% ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
20.4%±8.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Belgrade and Appleton 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 | — | #71 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 18 | — | Dedham Public Schools |
| 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 | 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.