Compare towns

Danforth vs Jay vs Stacyville

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).
Stacyville has the most people working from home (22.6%).

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.

MeasureDanforthJayStacyville
People
Population
452Lowest
4,657Highest
465
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-4.8%
ME: +2.6%
—
Median age
51.9±5.3Highest
16% above ME
39.5±5.1Lowest
12% below ME
49.6±4.6
11% above ME
Danforth and Stacyville 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%
15.5%±8.8
ME: 18.1%
Jay and Stacyville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.6%±5.8Highest
ME: 22.4%
19.3%±4.7Lowest
ME: 22.4%
20.6%±9.3
ME: 22.4%
Danforth and Stacyville 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%
12.3%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±2.9
ME: 5.8%
4.5%±3.2Highest
ME: 5.8%
0.4%±2.4Lowest
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
$54,583±$26k
27% below ME
Jay and Stacyville 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
$101,700±$25k
66% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$629±$22Lowest
45% below ME
$759±$141
33% below ME
$880±$74Highest
23% below ME
Stacyville and Jay 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
$1,099Lowest
64% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
11.5%±71.8Lowest
ME: 48.4%
27.2%±28.8
ME: 48.4%
60%±54.6Highest
ME: 48.4%
Stacyville and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12%Highest
ME: 10.7%
9.8%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
11.6%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.4%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
82.7%
ME: 74.3%
88.4%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
4 yrs newer than ME
1980
3 yrs newer than ME
1974Lowest
3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
9% above ME
21 minLowest
13% below ME
25 min
about the ME average
Work from home
3%±2.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
4.8%±5.9
ME: 15.9%
22.6%±16.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
Stacyville and Jay 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 RSU 89
High school in town — Spruce Mountain High School Katahdin Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.7Highest
10.7Lowest
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.