Compare towns
Danforth vs Washington vs Appleton
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).
Washington has the most people working from home (14.6%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Washington | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666Lowest |
1,624Highest |
1,360 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
48.2±6.7Lowest 8% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
| Danforth and Appleton 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% |
14.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Appleton and Washington 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% |
21.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
17.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Washington 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 |
$59,861±$17kHighest 20% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
| Washington 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 |
$195,200±$36k 34% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
| Appleton and Washington 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 |
$1,036±$322 9% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
| Appleton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$2,286 25% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Washington 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% |
15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 15% above ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Washington and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Appleton Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | None 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.