Compare towns
Appleton vs Danforth vs East Machias
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).
East Machias has the most kids (23.3% 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 | East Machias |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
666Lowest |
1,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
42.8±2.9Lowest 4% below 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% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
33.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| East Machias 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 |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$57,589±$10kHighest 23% below ME |
| East Machias 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 |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$210,800±$23k 29% below ME |
| Appleton and East Machias 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±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$907±$566 20% below ME |
| Appleton and East Machias 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 |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,836 40% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±40.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and East Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
15.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
4.1%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | East Machias Public Schools |
| 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.