Compare towns
Danforth vs Appleton vs Waldoboro
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%).
Waldoboro has the highest household income ($69k).
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 | Waldoboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666Lowest |
1,360 |
5,253Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
50.1±4.6 12% above ME |
| Danforth and Waldoboro 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% |
15.6%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Waldoboro and Appleton 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% |
22.6%±5.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest 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 | $48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$69,107±$8kHighest 8% below ME |
| Waldoboro 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±$33k 21% below ME |
$274,900±$39kHighest 7% below ME |
| Waldoboro and Appleton 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±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$348±$153Lowest 69% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,861 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
20%±15.8Lowest 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%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
9.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 15% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
25 minLowest 3% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Waldoboro 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 | — | — | #55 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Medomak Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5 |
| 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.