Compare towns
Danforth vs Danforth vs Searsmont vs Island Falls
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).
Danforth has the oldest population (median age 53.1).
Searsmont has the most expensive homes ($284k median).
Island Falls has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
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 | Danforth | Searsmont | Island Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 452Lowest |
666 |
1,646Highest |
768 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+0.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±5.3 16% above ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
44.5±9.8Lowest about the ME average |
50.7±10.6 13% above ME |
| Danforth and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±6.6 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±7.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Island Falls and Danforth 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% |
26.1%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
21%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.3%±2.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Island Falls 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% |
9% ME: 36.2% |
31.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
12.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Searsmont and Island Falls 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 |
$48,125±$8k 36% below ME |
$87,000±$20kHighest 16% above ME |
$56,328±$8k 25% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$89,900±$36k 70% below ME |
$284,000±$31kHighest 4% below ME |
$108,300±$25k 63% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$940±$311Highest 17% below ME |
$636±$124 44% below ME |
| Searsmont and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | — | $1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$2,788Highest 8% below ME |
$1,720 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
41.4%±41.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
17.9%±51.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Searsmont and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12% ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
20.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.6% ME: 74.3% |
90.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
28 minHighest 15% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±10.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Searsmont and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | RSU 71 | — |
| 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.