Compare towns
Ashland vs Danforth vs Danforth vs Van Buren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the most expensive homes ($125k median).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Danforth has the most homeowners (81.6%).
Van Buren has the most people working from home (8.3%).
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.
| Measure | Ashland | Danforth | Danforth | Van Buren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,080 |
452Lowest |
666 |
1,858Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | -0.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.4±9.1 19% above ME |
51.9±5.3Lowest 16% above ME |
53.1±4.4 19% above ME |
56±3.2Highest 25% above ME |
| Van Buren and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.8 ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Van Buren and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 32.2%±8 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
35.3%±7.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Van Buren and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
9% ME: 36.2% |
10.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Ashland and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $46,838±$15k 37% below ME |
$42,264±$11k 43% below ME |
$48,125±$8kHighest 36% below ME |
$40,170±$4kLowest 46% below ME |
| Danforth and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $125,000±$49kHighest 58% below ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$89,900±$36k 70% below ME |
$97,700±$24k 67% below ME |
| Ashland and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$733±$141Highest 36% below ME |
| Van Buren and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,511Highest 50% below ME |
— | $1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,415 53% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±27.5 ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
40.7%±11Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Van Buren and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 23.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
23% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1% ME: 74.3% |
79.4% ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
64.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 4 yrs older than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1958Lowest 19 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 14% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
28 minHighest 15% above ME |
15 minLowest 40% below ME |
| Work from home | 4.7%±2.7 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
8.3%±5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Van Buren and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | — | RSU 88/MSAD 24 |
| High school in town | — | — | — | Van Buren District Secondary Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.3 |
| 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.