Compare towns
Appleton vs Danforth vs Newburgh vs Searsmont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Newburgh has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Searsmont has the most people working from home (16.3%).
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 | Newburgh | Searsmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
452Lowest |
1,475 |
1,646Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | +2.8% ME: +2.6% |
+0.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
45.8±5.7 about the ME average |
44.5±9.8Lowest about the ME average |
| 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% |
14.8%±6.6 ME: 18.1% |
18.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Newburgh 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%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
21%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Danforth 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% |
29.9% ME: 36.2% |
31.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Searsmont and Newburgh 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 |
$76,750±$10k about the ME average |
$87,000±$20kHighest 16% above ME |
| Searsmont and Newburgh 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 |
$244,600±$20k 18% below ME |
$284,000±$31kHighest 4% below ME |
| Searsmont and Newburgh 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 |
$950±$219 17% below ME |
$940±$311 17% below ME |
| Appleton and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
— | $2,748Lowest 9% below ME |
$2,788 8% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
41.4%±41.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Newburgh 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% |
11.7% ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.2% ME: 74.3% |
90.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±3.3 ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±10.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Searsmont 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 71 |
| 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.