Compare towns
Danforth vs Mapleton vs Sandy River plantation vs Island Falls
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 most people working from home (10.8%).
Sandy River plantation has the most expensive homes ($404k median).
Island Falls has the oldest housing (typical home built 1960).
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 | Sandy River plantation | Island Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 452 |
1,884Highest |
90Lowest |
768 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -9.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±5.3 16% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
67.4±7.7Highest 50% above ME |
50.7±10.6 13% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±6.6 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.6%±30.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±7.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Island Falls 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% |
54.4%±21.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.3%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.5% ME: 36.2% |
12.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
10%±8.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Sandy River plantation and Mapleton 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 |
$61,250±$37k 18% below ME |
$56,328±$8k 25% below ME |
| Mapleton and Sandy River plantation 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 |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$403,600±$89kHighest 36% above ME |
$108,300±$25k 63% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$22 45% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% 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 | — | $1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$1,329Lowest 56% below ME |
$1,720 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±71.8 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
17.9%±51.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Island Falls and Mapleton 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% |
11.1% ME: 10.7% |
20.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
90.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
12 minLowest 52% below ME |
21 min 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
0%±52.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | — |
| High school 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.