Compare towns
Washington vs Appleton vs Danforth vs Somerville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most people working from home (14.6%).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Somerville has the most kids (28.8% 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 | Washington | Appleton | Danforth | Somerville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,624Highest |
1,360 |
452Lowest |
837 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
— | +9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±6.7 8% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
33.5±11.3Lowest 25% 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 | 14.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6 ME: 18.1% |
28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
13.7%±2.9Lowest 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+ | 17.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,861±$17k 20% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$71,250±$15kHighest 5% below ME |
| Somerville and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,200±$36k 34% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$218,100±$41k 26% below ME |
| Appleton and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,036±$322 9% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,286Lowest 25% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
— | $2,505 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±58.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.3% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
17%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 30% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.6%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
3.9%±2.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Washington and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 12 |
| 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.