Compare towns
Cooper vs Danforth vs Weston vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cooper has the most people working from home (13.5%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Weston has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Shirley has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Cooper | Danforth | Weston | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 157Lowest |
666Highest |
275 |
234 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.5±9.1 4% above ME |
53.1±4.4 19% above ME |
55.1±14Highest 23% above ME |
42±8.2Lowest 6% below ME |
| Weston and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±17Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.9%±7.2 ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±9.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Cooper and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±14 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
21.8%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.5%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Shirley and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2% ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
23.3% ME: 36.2% |
30.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±9.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±4.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±5.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Cooper and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $48,750±$15k 35% below ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$58,942±$7k 21% below ME |
$61,875±$22kHighest 17% below ME |
| Shirley and Weston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $212,500±$66k 28% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$171,700±$26k 42% below ME |
$219,600±$36kHighest 26% below ME |
| Shirley and Cooper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $629±$29 45% below ME |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,929 36% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,500 51% below ME |
$2,522Highest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
— |
| Weston and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 20.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.6% ME: 10.7% |
17% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95% ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
99%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 44 minHighest 78% above ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
21 min 17% below ME |
| Work from home | 13.5%±11Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±12.7 ME: 15.9% |
5.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Cooper and Weston 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.