Compare towns
Danforth vs Alfred vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Alfred has the most expensive homes ($342k median).
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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 | Danforth | Alfred | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 452Lowest |
3,125Highest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
44.9±5.3 about the ME average |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Danforth and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±6.3 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
25.4%±5.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Alfred and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Union and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$82,321±$18kHighest 10% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Alfred and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$342,300±$38kHighest 15% above ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Alfred and Union 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 |
$1,035±$432 9% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | — | $3,543Highest 17% above ME |
$3,276Lowest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
82.2%±29.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.1% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
7.6%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #74 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.