Compare towns

Danforth vs Appleton vs Meddybemps

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Appleton has the most people working from home (11.1%).
Meddybemps has the most expensive homes ($295k median).

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.

MeasureDanforthAppletonMeddybemps
People
Population
452
1,360Highest
139Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+7.2%
ME: +2.6%
—
Median age
51.9±5.3
16% above ME
49.2±7.4Lowest
10% above ME
63.9±4.2Highest
43% above ME
Kids under 18
14.8%±6.6
ME: 18.1%
15.3%±2.7Highest
ME: 18.1%
5%±21.5Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Appleton and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.6%±5.8Lowest
ME: 22.4%
26.1%±9.3
ME: 22.4%
39.6%±15.4Highest
ME: 22.4%
Meddybemps and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
4.5%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
34.1%Highest
ME: 36.2%
14.2%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±2.9Lowest
ME: 5.8%
3.7%±2.4
ME: 5.8%
5%±10.1Highest
ME: 5.8%
Meddybemps and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$42,264±$11kLowest
43% below ME
$53,618±$19kHighest
28% below ME
$48,000±$13k
36% below ME
Appleton and Meddybemps are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$85,200±$20kLowest
71% below ME
$235,600±$33k
21% below ME
$295,000±$73kHighest
about the ME average
Meddybemps and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$629±$22Lowest
45% below ME
$1,104±$82Highest
3% below ME
—
Property taxmedian, yearly —
$3,588Highest
18% above ME
$1,206Lowest
60% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
11.5%±71.8Lowest
ME: 48.4%
85.4%±100
ME: 48.4%
100%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
Meddybemps and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12%Highest
ME: 10.7%
9.7%
ME: 10.7%
7.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.4%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
82.6%
ME: 74.3%
87.1%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Lowest
4 yrs newer than ME
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
1982
5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
9% above ME
30 min
23% above ME
31 minHighest
28% above ME
Work from home
3%±2.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
11.1%±3.5Highest
ME: 15.9%
5.4%±7.8
ME: 15.9%
Appleton and Meddybemps are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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

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.