Compare towns
Danforth vs Chapman vs Appleton 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).
Chapman has the highest household income ($93k).
Appleton has the most people working from home (11.1%).
Mattawamkeag has the most renters (23.9% rent).
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 | Chapman | Appleton | Mattawamkeag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666 |
388Lowest |
1,360Highest |
698 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
— | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-13.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
45.7±11.4Lowest about the ME average |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
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% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±9.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Mattawamkeag 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% |
27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
20.1%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Chapman 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% ME: 36.2% |
22.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
6.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman 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 |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$45,000±$16kLowest 40% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$185,700±$22k 37% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$104,200±$41k 65% below ME |
| Appleton and Chapman 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 |
$488±$190Lowest 57% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,270 58% below ME |
$1,850 39% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,111Lowest 63% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest 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% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
33.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
76.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 15% above ME |
23 minLowest 6% below ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
42 minHighest 69% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
2.2%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Danforth 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 | 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.