Compare towns
Appleton vs Danforth vs Danforth vs Waldoboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the most people working from home (11.1%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Danforth has the oldest population (median age 53.1).
Waldoboro has the highest household income ($69k).
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 | Danforth | Danforth | Waldoboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
452Lowest |
666 |
5,253Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
51.9±5.3 16% above ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
50.1±4.6 12% above ME |
| Danforth and Danforth 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% |
14.8%±6.6 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Waldoboro and Appleton 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% |
22.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
9% ME: 36.2% |
29.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Danforth 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 |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$48,125±$8k 36% below ME |
$69,107±$8kHighest 8% below ME |
| Waldoboro 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 |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$89,900±$36k 70% below ME |
$274,900±$39kHighest 7% below ME |
| Waldoboro 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 |
$629±$22 45% below ME |
$629±$29 45% below ME |
$348±$153Lowest 69% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
— | $1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$2,861 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
20%±15.8 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% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.4% ME: 74.3% |
81.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
25 minLowest 3% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Waldoboro 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 | — | — | — | #55 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | Medomak Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 13.5 |
| 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.