Compare towns
Alton vs Burnham vs Danforth vs Old Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alton has the highest household income ($63k).
Burnham has the most homeowners (87.8%).
Danforth has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.3%).
Old Town has the most renters (40.7% rent).
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 | Alton | Burnham | Danforth | Old Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 819 |
953 |
666Lowest |
7,470Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-5.8% ME: +2.6% |
-0.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.1±5.9 10% above ME |
48.4±3.2 8% above ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
37±1.5Lowest 17% below ME |
| Danforth and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
16.8%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±4.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Old Town and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
22.2%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.9%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.2% ME: 36.2% |
20.8% ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.2%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,955±$9kHighest 16% below ME |
$59,261±$18k 21% below ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$51,585±$10k 31% below ME |
| Alton and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $179,500±$25k 39% below ME |
$178,100±$43k 40% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$208,100±$26kHighest 30% below ME |
| Old Town and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $866±$48 24% below ME |
$1,308±$386Highest 15% above ME |
$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$989±$100 13% below ME |
| Burnham and Old Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,476 51% below ME |
$1,897 38% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$3,153Highest 4% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±88.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
60.9%±49 ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±15 ME: 48.4% |
| Alton and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 24.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
21.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% ME: 74.3% |
87.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.6% ME: 74.3% |
59.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1963Lowest 14 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
22 min 13% below ME |
28 minHighest 15% above ME |
20 minLowest 18% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±7.3 ME: 15.9% |
17%±10.9 ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.4%±11.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Old Town and Burnham 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 | — | — | — | #56 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 34 | — | — | RSU 34 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | Old Town High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.8 |
| 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.