Compare towns
Appleton vs Bucksport vs Danforth
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%).
Bucksport has the highest household income ($65k).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k 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 | Appleton | Bucksport | Danforth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
5,016Highest |
666Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.4% ME: +2.6% |
-0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
42.7±12.2Lowest 5% below ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% 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% |
17.9%±5.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Bucksport and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.6%±7.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bucksport and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.3% ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Bucksport 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 |
$64,720±$21kHighest 13% below ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
| Bucksport and Appleton 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 |
$252,300±$32kHighest 15% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
| Bucksport and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$882±$92 23% below ME |
$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,021 33% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
48.9%±17 ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Bucksport 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% |
6.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
28 minLowest 15% above ME |
28 minLowest 15% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.1%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Bucksport 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 | — | #68 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 25 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Bucksport High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.