Compare towns
Appleton vs Danforth vs Meddybemps
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).
Meddybemps has the most expensive homes ($295k 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 | Danforth | Meddybemps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
452 |
139Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
— | — |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
51.9±5.3 16% above ME |
63.9±4.2Highest 43% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6 ME: 18.1% |
5%±21.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Appleton and Danforth 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%±5.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
39.6%±15.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Meddybemps 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% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
14.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±10.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Meddybemps 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±$19kHighest 28% below ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$48,000±$13k 36% below ME |
| Appleton and Meddybemps 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 |
$295,000±$73kHighest about the ME average |
| Meddybemps 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±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
— | $1,206Lowest 60% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Meddybemps and Appleton 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%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
31 minHighest 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
5.4%±7.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Meddybemps are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.