What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).

Island Falls has the most people working from home (6.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Danforth	Island Falls
People
Population	452Lowest	768Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-9.4% ME: +2.6%
Median age	51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME	50.7±10.6Lowest 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%	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%±5.8Lowest 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%	12.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Island Falls 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	$56,328±$8kHighest 25% below ME
	Island Falls and Danforth 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	$108,300±$25kHighest 63% below ME
	Island Falls and Danforth 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	$636±$124Highest 44% below ME
	Island Falls and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	—	$1,720 43% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	17.9%±51.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Island Falls and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12%Lowest ME: 10.7%	20.7%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%	79.6%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME	1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 9% above ME	21 minLowest 16% below ME
Work from home	3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	6.7%±5.4Highest ME: 15.9%
	Island Falls and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.