Compare towns
Warren vs Appleton vs Danforth vs Poland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warren has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Appleton has the most homeowners (82.6%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Poland has the most people working from home (21.9%).
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 | Warren | Appleton | Danforth | Poland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932 |
1,360 |
666Lowest |
5,954Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 6% below ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
44.2±9.4 about the ME average |
| 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%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Poland and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.8%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
23.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Warren and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,616±$21k about the ME average |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$85,557±$23kHighest 14% above ME |
| Poland and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,700±$32k 22% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$283,600±$44kHighest 4% below ME |
| Poland and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$456 about the ME average |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,198±$128Highest 5% above ME |
| Poland and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,832 7% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$2,774 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.1%±29.8 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
61.6%±30.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
16.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.6% ME: 74.3% |
81.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 8% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.6%±9.3 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Poland and Warren 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 | #120 of 133 in ME | — | — | #81 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Poland Regional H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.2 |
| 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.