Compare towns
Orient vs Danforth vs Appleton vs Sandy River plantation
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orient has the most people working from home (81%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Appleton has the youngest population (median age 49.2).
Sandy River plantation has the oldest population (median age 67.4).
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 | Orient | Danforth | Appleton | Sandy River plantation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 137 |
666 |
1,360Highest |
90Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 62±9 38% above ME |
53.1±4.4 19% above ME |
49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
67.4±7.7Highest 50% above ME |
| Sandy River plantation and Orient are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±18.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
5.6%±30.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Orient and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 46%±10.2 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
54.4%±21.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Sandy River plantation and Orient are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25% ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±11.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
10%±8.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Sandy River plantation 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±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$61,250±$37kHighest 18% below ME |
| Sandy River plantation and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $548,600±$183kHighest 85% above ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$403,600±$89k 36% above ME |
| Orient and Sandy River plantation 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 |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | — | $1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,329 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Orient and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 35.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
90.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Lowest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | — | 28 min 15% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
12 minLowest 52% below ME |
| Work from home | 81%±44Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
0%±52.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| 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.