What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alton has the most people working from home (15.3%).

Danforth has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.3%).

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	Alton	Danforth
People
Population	819Highest	666Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-0.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.1±5.9Lowest 10% above ME	53.1±4.4Highest 19% above 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%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1%	13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Alton and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4%	26.1%±3.7Highest 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%Highest ME: 36.2%	9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8%	1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Alton and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,955±$9kHighest 16% below ME	$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME
	Alton and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$179,500±$25kHighest 39% below ME	$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$866±$48Highest 24% below ME	$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,476Highest 51% below ME	$1,270Lowest 58% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	76.3%±88.9Highest ME: 48.4%	36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Alton and Danforth 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%	13.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME	1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	28 minHighest 15% above ME
Work from home	15.3%±7.3Highest ME: 15.9%	5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Alton and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 34	—
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.