Compare towns
Readfield vs Appleton vs Danforth vs Belgrade
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Readfield has the most people working from home (24.3%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Belgrade has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Readfield | Appleton | Danforth | Belgrade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,651 |
1,360 |
666Lowest |
3,351Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
47.3±14.6Lowest 6% 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 | 18.7%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.6%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Belgrade and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,504±$8k 16% above ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$88,338±$13kHighest 18% above ME |
| Belgrade and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,400±$20kHighest 10% above ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$312,200±$44k 5% above ME |
| Readfield and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$844Highest about the ME average |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$857±$108 25% below ME |
| Readfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,392 12% above ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$2,859 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9Lowest 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 | 5% ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 20% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.4%±8.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Readfield and Belgrade 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 | #20 of 133 in ME | — | — | #71 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 38 | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — | — |
| 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.