Compare towns
Danforth vs Appleton vs Bowdoin vs Island Falls
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 ($90k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Bowdoin has the highest household income ($91k).
Island Falls has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Danforth | Appleton | Bowdoin | Island Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666Lowest |
1,360 |
3,188Highest |
768 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5% ME: +2.6% |
-9.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
44.3±10Lowest about the ME average |
50.7±10.6 13% above ME |
| Danforth and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±7.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Island Falls and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.3%±2.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Island Falls and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.4% ME: 36.2% |
12.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$91,239±$13kHighest 22% above ME |
$56,328±$8k 25% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$292,800±$71kHighest about the ME average |
$108,300±$25k 63% below ME |
| Bowdoin and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
— | $636±$124 44% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$3,375 11% above ME |
$1,720 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
17.9%±51.5 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 | 13.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11% ME: 10.7% |
20.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 15% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Bowdoin and Appleton 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 | — | — | #28 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | — |
| 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.