Compare towns
Appleton vs Orient vs Danforth vs Hope
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orient has the most people working from home (81%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Hope 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 | Orient | Danforth | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
137Lowest |
452 |
1,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | — | +10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
62±9Highest 38% above ME |
51.9±5.3 16% above ME |
44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average |
| Orient 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% |
16.8%±18.9 ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Orient 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% |
46%±10.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
0%±11.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Danforth 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 |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$548,600±$183kHighest 85% above ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$373,400±$33k 26% above ME |
| Orient and Hope 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 |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
| Hope and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 18% above ME |
— | — | $3,842Highest 27% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 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% ME: 10.7% |
35.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
93.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
— | 27 min 9% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
81%±44Highest ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | — | Hope 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.