Compare towns
Appleton vs Perham vs Danforth vs Searsmont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Perham has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Searsmont has the most people working from home (16.3%).
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 | Perham | Danforth | Searsmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
326Lowest |
452 |
1,646Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | — | +0.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
53±12.9Highest 18% above ME |
51.9±5.3 16% above ME |
44.5±9.8Lowest about the ME average |
| Perham 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% |
19.6%±8.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6 ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Perham and Appleton 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% |
24.5%±2.3 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
21%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
18.7% ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Searsmont 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 |
$62,500±$22k 16% below ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$87,000±$20kHighest 16% above ME |
| Searsmont and Perham 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 |
$117,600±$9k 60% below ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$284,000±$31kHighest 4% below ME |
| Searsmont and Appleton 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±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
$940±$311 17% below ME |
| Appleton and Searsmont 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 |
$1,641Lowest 46% below ME |
— | $2,788 8% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
41.4%±41.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Searsmont 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% |
2.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
27 min 9% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±7.2 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±10.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Searsmont and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | — | RSU 71 |
| 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.