Compare towns
Alfred vs Danforth vs Danforth vs Lyman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alfred has the most kids (17.7% under 18).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Lyman has the most people working from home (18.9%).
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 | Alfred | Danforth | Danforth | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,125 |
452Lowest |
666 |
4,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% ME: +2.6% |
— | -0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±5.3Lowest about the ME average |
51.9±5.3 16% above ME |
53.1±4.4 19% above ME |
53.8±2Highest 20% above ME |
| Lyman and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Alfred and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
9% ME: 36.2% |
25.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Lyman and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,321±$18k 10% above ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$48,125±$8k 36% below ME |
$87,284±$14kHighest 17% above ME |
| Lyman and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $342,300±$38k 15% above ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$89,900±$36k 70% below ME |
$360,400±$44kHighest 22% above ME |
| Lyman and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,035±$432 9% below ME |
$629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,063±$522Highest 7% below ME |
| Lyman and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,543Highest 17% above ME |
— | $1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$2,717 11% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 82.2%±29.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
37.7%±44.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Alfred and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.6% ME: 74.3% |
95%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.6%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #74 of 133 in ME | — | — | #40 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | — | — | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school 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.