Compare towns
Appleton vs Danforth vs Thomaston 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).
Thomaston has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Searsmont has the highest household income ($87k).
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 | Thomaston | Searsmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
452Lowest |
2,769Highest |
1,646 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -1.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
51.9±5.3 16% above ME |
58.1±6.6Highest 30% above ME |
44.5±9.8Lowest about the ME average |
| Thomaston and Danforth 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% |
19.2%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Thomaston and Appleton 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% |
35.5%±8.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
21%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Thomaston 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% |
30.9% ME: 36.2% |
31.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Searsmont 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±$19k 28% below ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$56,435±$13k 24% below ME |
$87,000±$20kHighest 16% above ME |
| Searsmont and Thomaston 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 |
$271,700±$10k 8% below ME |
$284,000±$31kHighest 4% below ME |
| Searsmont and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,262±$343Highest 11% above ME |
$940±$311 17% below ME |
| Thomaston and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 18% above ME |
— | $4,487Highest 48% above ME |
$2,788Lowest 8% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±23.5 ME: 48.4% |
41.4%±41.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Thomaston 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% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.4% ME: 74.3% |
73.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
14 minLowest 45% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
4.4%±3.9 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #99 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 13 | RSU 71 |
| High school in town | None 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.