Compare towns
Danforth vs Denmark vs Dresden 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).
Denmark has the most people working from home (12.7%).
Dresden has the highest household income ($75k).
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 | Denmark | Dresden | Island Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 452Lowest |
1,054 |
1,645Highest |
768 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-9.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±5.3 16% above ME |
54.4±5 21% above ME |
55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME |
50.7±10.6Lowest 13% above ME |
| Dresden and Denmark 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% |
15.6%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
17%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±7.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Island Falls and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31.8%±7.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±8 ME: 22.4% |
26.3%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Denmark and Island Falls 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% |
29.8% ME: 36.2% |
30.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
12.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Denmark 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 |
$64,167±$10k 14% below ME |
$74,844±$22kHighest about the ME average |
$56,328±$8k 25% below ME |
| Dresden and Denmark 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 |
$250,000±$68kHighest 16% below ME |
$240,100±$29k 19% below ME |
$108,300±$25k 63% below ME |
| Denmark and Dresden 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 |
$1,409±$207Highest 24% above ME |
$1,194±$502 5% above ME |
$636±$124 44% below ME |
| Denmark and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | — | $2,259 26% below ME |
$2,500Highest 18% below ME |
$1,720Lowest 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
90.6%±31Highest ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26 ME: 48.4% |
17.9%±51.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Denmark and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.3% ME: 10.7% |
20.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
34 minHighest 39% above ME |
33 min 35% above ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.7%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Denmark and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | RSU 02 | — |
| 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.