Compare towns
Crystal vs Danforth vs Topsfield vs Patten
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Crystal has the most kids (16.2% under 18).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($142k median).
Patten has the most people working from home (28.7%).
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 | Crystal | Danforth | Topsfield | Patten |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 247 |
452 |
214Lowest |
1,154Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -13.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 63.2±8.4 41% above ME |
51.9±5.3Lowest 16% above ME |
63.5±4.9Highest 42% above ME |
57.8±3.5 29% above ME |
| Topsfield and Crystal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±11.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6 ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±10.4 ME: 18.1% |
11.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Crystal and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 49%±5.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
44.9%±12.5 ME: 22.4% |
38.5%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Crystal and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9% ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
14.4% ME: 36.2% |
25.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±6.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±5.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Danforth and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $48,125±$13k 36% below ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$48,125±$16k 36% below ME |
$51,484±$6kHighest 31% below ME |
| Patten and Crystal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $129,200±$60k 56% below ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$141,700±$32kHighest 52% below ME |
$127,600±$49k 57% below ME |
| Topsfield and Crystal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,563±$922Highest 37% above ME |
$629±$22 45% below ME |
— | $389±$99Lowest 66% below ME |
| Crystal and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $943Lowest 69% below ME |
— | $957 68% below ME |
$1,199Highest 61% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
— | 56%±64.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Patten and Crystal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% ME: 10.7% |
12%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.1% ME: 10.7% |
23.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1969 8 yrs older than ME |
1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 10% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
34 minHighest 39% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 0%±15.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
28.7%±19.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Patten and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | East Range CSD | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| 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.