Compare towns
Appleton vs Danforth vs Readfield vs Strong
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).
Readfield has the highest household income ($87k).
Strong has the most kids (19.5% 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 | Readfield | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
452Lowest |
2,651Highest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | 0% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
47.5±8.9Lowest 6% 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% |
18.7%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Strong and Readfield 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% |
22.3%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5% 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 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Readfield 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 |
$86,504±$8kHighest 16% above ME |
$47,557±$10k 36% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$326,400±$20kHighest 10% above ME |
$183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,125±$844Highest about the ME average |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
| Readfield and Appleton 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 |
— | $3,392 12% above ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Readfield 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% |
5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Readfield and Strong 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 | — | — | #20 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 38 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
— |
| 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.