Compare towns
Searsmont vs Danforth vs Appleton vs Morrill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Searsmont has the most people working from home (16.3%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Morrill has the most kids (22.8% 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 | Searsmont | Danforth | Appleton | Morrill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,646Highest |
452Lowest |
1,360 |
914 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.5±9.8 about the ME average |
51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
39.8±6.1Lowest 11% below ME |
| Danforth and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.8%±4.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 21%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6% ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Searsmont and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,000±$20kHighest 16% above ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$74,250±$18k about the ME average |
| Searsmont and Morrill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,000±$31kHighest 4% below ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$214,000±$18k 28% below ME |
| Searsmont and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $940±$311 17% below ME |
$629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$975±$891 14% below ME |
| Appleton and Morrill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,788 8% below ME |
— | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,472Lowest 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±41.3 ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
34.3%±45.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
6.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
89.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
27 min 9% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
29 min 16% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.3%±10.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
5.9%±3.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Searsmont and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 71 | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 71 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None 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.