Compare towns
Appleton vs Danforth vs Dedham vs Monticello
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Dedham has the highest household income ($111k).
Monticello has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
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 | Dedham | Monticello |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
666Lowest |
1,656Highest |
674 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
-2% ME: +2.6% |
-6.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
46.5±2.2Lowest 4% above ME |
52.7±6 18% above ME |
| Danforth and Monticello 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% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.8%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
28.2%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Monticello 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% ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
9.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Dedham 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 |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$51,875±$13k 31% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
$125,800±$36k 58% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$833±$434 27% below ME |
| Dedham 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 |
$1,270 58% below ME |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$1,200Lowest 60% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.5%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Monticello 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% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
28 minLowest 15% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | Dedham Public Schools | — |
| 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.