Compare towns
Appleton vs Danforth vs Orrington vs Readfield
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).
Orrington has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Readfield has the most people working from home (24.3%).
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 | Orrington | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
666Lowest |
3,853Highest |
2,651 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.1% ME: +2.6% |
0% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
49.5±3.3 10% above ME |
48.1±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
| Danforth and Orrington 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% |
16.4%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Readfield and Orrington 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% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.8%±5.1 ME: 22.4% |
22.3%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Orrington 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 |
$94,556±$10kHighest 27% above ME |
$86,504±$8k 16% above ME |
| Orrington and Readfield 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 |
$309,000±$49k 4% above ME |
$326,400±$20kHighest 10% above ME |
| Readfield and Orrington 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±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,167±$135Highest about the ME average |
$1,125±$844 about the ME average |
| Orrington and Readfield 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 |
$2,823 7% below ME |
$3,392 12% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
11.9%±20.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Danforth 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%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.6% ME: 10.7% |
5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.5% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 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 |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Readfield and Orrington 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 | — | — | #41 of 133 in ME | #20 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | Orrington Public Schools | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch |
| 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.