Compare towns
Appleton vs Danforth vs Peru
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).
Peru has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
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 | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
452Lowest |
1,501Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
48±7.6Lowest 7% 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% |
14.8%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Peru 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% |
21.7%±3.8Lowest 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% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Peru 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 |
$66,827±$19kHighest 11% below ME |
| Peru 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±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$141,300±$38k 52% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
$723±$16 37% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
— | $1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Peru 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% |
9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 56 |
| High school in town | None 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.