Compare towns
Danforth vs Jay vs Mattawamkeag
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).
Jay has the most expensive homes ($169k median).
Mattawamkeag has the most renters (23.9% rent).
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 | Jay | Mattawamkeag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 452Lowest |
4,657Highest |
698 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-13.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
51.4±3.8 15% above ME |
| Danforth and Mattawamkeag 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% |
17.5%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±9.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.1%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Mattawamkeag 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% |
29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
6.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Jay 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 |
$70,238±$19kHighest 6% below ME |
$45,000±$16k 40% below ME |
| Jay and Mattawamkeag 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 |
$168,600±$27kHighest 43% below ME |
$104,200±$41k 65% below ME |
| Jay and Mattawamkeag are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$22 45% below ME |
$759±$141Highest 33% below ME |
$488±$190Lowest 57% below ME |
| Jay and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | — | $2,245Highest 26% below ME |
$1,111Lowest 63% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
42.7%±31.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Mattawamkeag and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12% ME: 10.7% |
9.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
33.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.4% ME: 74.3% |
82.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
76.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
42 minHighest 69% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.8 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
2.2%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Jay and Danforth 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 | — | #86 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 73 | — |
| High school in town | — | Spruce Mountain High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.