Compare towns
Danforth vs Appleton vs Brooks vs Mattawamkeag
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%).
Brooks has the most people working from home (14.5%).
Mattawamkeag has the most kids (17.5% 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 | Danforth | Appleton | Brooks | Mattawamkeag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666Lowest |
1,360Highest |
1,208 |
698 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.3% ME: +2.6% |
-13.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
45.9±6.6Lowest about the ME average |
51.4±3.8 15% above ME |
| Danforth and Mattawamkeag 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% |
17.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±9.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mattawamkeag and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.1%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 9% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.5% ME: 36.2% |
6.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $48,125±$8k 36% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$59,130±$10kHighest 21% below ME |
$45,000±$16kLowest 40% below ME |
| Brooks and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$196,700±$33k 34% below ME |
$104,200±$41k 65% below ME |
| Appleton and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$29 45% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,116±$112Highest about the ME average |
$488±$190Lowest 57% below ME |
| Brooks and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,270 58% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,096 31% below ME |
$1,111Lowest 63% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.7%±31.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Mattawamkeag 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% |
19.1% ME: 10.7% |
33.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
76.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 15% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
42 minHighest 69% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
2.2%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Brooks 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 03/MSAD 03 | — |
| 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.