Compare towns
Brooks vs Danforth vs Mars Hill vs Knox
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooks has the most expensive homes ($197k median).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Mars Hill has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Knox has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).
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 | Brooks | Danforth | Mars Hill | Knox |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
666Lowest |
1,398Highest |
825 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
-8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
43.4±3 3% below ME |
41.1±7.9Lowest 8% below ME |
| Danforth and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Mars Hill and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
17.3%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,130±$10k 21% below ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$65,273±$9kHighest 13% below ME |
$64,821±$9k 13% below ME |
| Mars Hill and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,700±$33kHighest 34% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$163,600±$23k 45% below ME |
$159,600±$26k 46% below ME |
| Brooks and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,116±$112 about the ME average |
$629±$29 45% below ME |
$488±$96Lowest 57% below ME |
$1,375±$47Highest 21% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096Highest 31% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,843 39% below ME |
$1,610 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1 ME: 48.4% |
11.3%±31.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Danforth and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
8.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
80.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
28 min 15% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6 ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±7.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Brooks and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — | RSU 42/MSAD 42 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.0 |
— |
| 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.