Compare towns
Danforth vs Dedham vs Mapleton 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).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($356k median).
Mapleton has the most people working from home (10.8%).
Island Falls 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 | Danforth | Dedham | Mapleton | Island Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 452Lowest |
1,656 |
1,884Highest |
768 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-9.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
50.7±10.6 13% above ME |
| Danforth and Island Falls 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% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±7.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Mapleton 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% |
18.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest 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% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
12.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Dedham 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 |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$56,328±$8k 25% below ME |
| Dedham and Mapleton 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 |
$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$108,300±$25k 63% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$22 45% below ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$636±$124 44% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | — | $3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,720Lowest 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
17.9%±51.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Island Falls and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12% ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
20.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
79.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Dedham Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| High school in town | — | None 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.