Compare towns
Appleton vs Danforth vs Island Falls vs Liberty
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 expensive homes ($236k median).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Island Falls has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Liberty has the most people working from home (14.4%).
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 | Island Falls | Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
452Lowest |
768 |
969 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -9.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
50.7±10.6 13% above ME |
40.5±6.8Lowest 10% below ME |
| Danforth and Island Falls 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%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±7.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Island Falls and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
26.3%±2.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.8%±2.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Island Falls 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% ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
12.9% ME: 36.2% |
43.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Island Falls 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 |
$56,328±$8k 25% below ME |
$71,146±$15kHighest 5% below ME |
| Liberty and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$108,300±$25k 63% below ME |
$229,600±$31k 23% below ME |
| Appleton and Liberty 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 |
$636±$124 44% below ME |
$559±$193Lowest 51% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
— | $1,720Lowest 43% below ME |
$2,434 20% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
17.9%±51.5 ME: 48.4% |
38.5%±42.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
20.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
14.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
38 minHighest 56% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
14.4%±8.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Liberty and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school 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.