Compare towns
Danforth vs Mapleton vs Monticello vs Strong
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).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Monticello has the most homeowners (88.2%).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Mapleton | Monticello | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 452Lowest |
1,884Highest |
674 |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.7% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±5.3 16% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
52.7±6Highest 18% above ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
| Monticello 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.8%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Strong 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
28.2%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Monticello 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
9.4% ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Monticello 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$51,875±$13k 31% below ME |
$47,557±$10k 36% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$125,800±$36k 58% below ME |
$183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
| Mapleton and Strong 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$833±$434 27% below ME |
$920±$276Highest 19% below ME |
| Strong and Monticello are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | — | $1,789 41% below ME |
$1,200Lowest 60% below ME |
$1,950Highest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
37.5%±62.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Monticello and Strong 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% |
19.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
88.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.