What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alfred has the most expensive homes ($342k median).

Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Alfred	Danforth
People
Population	3,125Highest	666Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.9±5.3Lowest about the ME average	53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME
	Danforth and Alfred 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%	13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Alfred and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.4%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4%
	Danforth and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.7%Highest ME: 36.2%	9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8%	1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Alfred 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±$18kHighest 10% above ME	$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$342,300±$38kHighest 15% above ME	$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,035±$432Highest 9% below ME	$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME
	Alfred and Danforth 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
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	82.2%±29.5Highest ME: 48.4%	36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Alfred and Danforth 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%	13.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 13% above ME	28 minHighest 15% above ME
Work from home	7.6%±4.3Highest ME: 15.9%	5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Alfred and Danforth 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	#74 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 57/MSAD 57	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.