Compare towns

Denmark vs Appleton vs Dresden

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Denmark has the most people working from home (12.7%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Dresden has the highest household income ($75k).

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.

MeasureDenmarkAppletonDresden
People
Population
1,054Lowest
1,360
1,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.3%
ME: +2.6%
+7.2%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+3.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
54.4±5
21% above ME
49.2±7.4Lowest
10% above ME
55.1±7.9Highest
23% above ME
Dresden and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.6%±3.3
ME: 18.1%
15.3%±2.7Lowest
ME: 18.1%
17%±3.4Highest
ME: 18.1%
Dresden and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31.8%±7.4Highest
ME: 22.4%
26.1%±9.3
ME: 22.4%
24.8%±8Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Denmark and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
29.8%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
34.1%Highest
ME: 36.2%
30.5%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±2Highest
ME: 5.8%
3.7%±2.4
ME: 5.8%
3%±1.9Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Denmark and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$64,167±$10k
14% below ME
$53,618±$19kLowest
28% below ME
$74,844±$22kHighest
about the ME average
Dresden and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$250,000±$68kHighest
16% below ME
$235,600±$33kLowest
21% below ME
$240,100±$29k
19% below ME
Denmark and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,409±$207Highest
24% above ME
$1,104±$82Lowest
3% below ME
$1,194±$502
5% above ME
Denmark and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,259Lowest
26% below ME
$3,588Highest
18% above ME
$2,500
18% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
90.6%±31Highest
ME: 48.4%
85.4%±100
ME: 48.4%
13.2%±26Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Denmark and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
9.7%Highest
ME: 10.7%
9.3%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.7%Highest
ME: 74.3%
82.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
88.2%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Lowest
3 yrs newer than ME
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
1985
8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
39% above ME
30 minLowest
23% above ME
33 min
35% above ME
Work from home
12.7%±6.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
11.1%±3.5
ME: 15.9%
6.7%±2.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Denmark 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 02
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.