Compare towns
Danforth vs Jay vs Wilton vs Danforth
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Wilton has the most people working from home (13.1%).
Danforth has the oldest population (median age 53.1).
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 | Wilton | Danforth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 452Lowest |
4,657Highest |
3,862 |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.8% ME: +2.6% |
-6.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±5.3 16% above ME |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
46.1±6.6 about the ME average |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
| Danforth and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±6.6 ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Wilton and Jay 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% |
19.3%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Wilton 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% |
29.7% ME: 36.2% |
31.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Wilton 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 |
$63,396±$23k 15% below ME |
$48,125±$8k 36% below ME |
| Jay and Wilton 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±$27k 43% below ME |
$202,000±$30kHighest 32% below ME |
$89,900±$36k 70% below ME |
| Wilton and Jay 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 |
$446±$274Lowest 61% below ME |
$629±$29 45% 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 | — | $2,245 26% below ME |
$2,344Highest 23% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
52.5%±31.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Wilton and Danforth 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% |
14.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.8% ME: 74.3% |
81.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
28 min 14% above ME |
28 minHighest 15% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
13.1%±7.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Wilton 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 | #121 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 73 | RSU 09 | — |
| High school in town | — | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.