Compare towns
Chapman vs Danforth vs Waltham vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chapman has the highest household income ($93k).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Waltham has the most people working from home (13.4%).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Chapman | Danforth | Waltham | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 388 |
666Highest |
346Lowest |
444 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.7±11.4Lowest about the ME average |
53.1±4.4 19% above ME |
56.4±9.3Highest 26% above ME |
46.1±5.8 about the ME average |
| Waltham and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15%±8.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.7%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
32.9%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Waltham and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$71,071±$14k 5% below ME |
$62,500±$21k 16% below ME |
| Chapman and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $185,700±$22kHighest 37% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$181,300±$22k 39% below ME |
$133,900±$56k 55% below ME |
| Chapman and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$850±$567 25% below ME |
$988±$111Highest 13% below ME |
| Ludlow and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,850Highest 39% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,452 52% below ME |
$1,655 45% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
15%±96.7 ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±94.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Ludlow and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
19.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
15.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.2% ME: 74.3% |
90.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 6% below ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
41 minHighest 67% above ME |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
13.4%±6.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.8%±8 ME: 15.9% |
| Waltham and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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.