Compare towns
Alton vs Danforth vs Phillips 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).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Old Town has the most people working from home (21.4%).
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 | Danforth | Phillips | Old Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 819 |
452Lowest |
1,094 |
7,470Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% ME: +2.6% |
— | -12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-5.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.1±5.9 10% above ME |
51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
49.7±3.7 11% above ME |
37±1.5Lowest 17% below ME |
| Danforth and Phillips 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% |
14.8%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±4.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Old Town and Phillips 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% |
22.6%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
16.9%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Alton 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% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
20.7% ME: 36.2% |
36.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
13.2%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,955±$9kHighest 16% below ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$45,385±$12k 39% below ME |
$51,585±$10k 31% below ME |
| Alton and Old Town 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 |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$190,800±$18k 36% below ME |
$208,100±$26kHighest 30% below ME |
| Old Town and Phillips 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 |
$629±$22 45% below ME |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
$989±$100Highest 13% below ME |
| Old Town and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,476Lowest 51% below ME |
— | $2,582 15% below ME |
$3,153Highest 4% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±88.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±15 ME: 48.4% |
| Alton and Old Town 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% |
12%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.7% ME: 10.7% |
21.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.4% ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
59.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1963Lowest 14 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
27 minHighest 9% above ME |
23 min 8% below ME |
20 minLowest 18% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±7.3 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
21.4%±11.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Old Town and Phillips 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 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 34 |
| High school in town | None 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.