Compare towns
Appleton vs Danforth vs Orient vs Sangerville
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 youngest population (median age 49.2).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Orient has the most people working from home (81%).
Sangerville 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 | Orient | Sangerville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
666 |
137Lowest |
1,136 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
— | -2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
53.1±4.4 19% above ME |
62±9Highest 38% above ME |
53.9±6.9 20% above ME |
| Orient and Sangerville 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% |
16.8%±18.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.1%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Orient 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% |
26.1%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
46%±10.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.1%±4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
12.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
0%±11.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Sangerville 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±$19kHighest 28% below ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
— | $50,313±$14k 33% below ME |
| Appleton and Sangerville 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 |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$548,600±$183kHighest 85% above ME |
$124,000±$40k 58% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
— | $850±$136 25% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
— | $1,349 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.6%±27.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Orient and Appleton 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% |
35.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
— | 20 minLowest 18% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
81%±44Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.7%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | — | — |
| High school 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.