Compare towns
Danforth vs Mapleton vs West Gardiner
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 kids (22.2% under 18).
West Gardiner has the most expensive homes ($305k median).
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 | West Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 452Lowest |
1,884 |
3,696Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
43.5±2.8 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and West Gardiner 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.3%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Mapleton 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% |
32.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
8.1%±5.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| West Gardiner 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±$25k 23% above ME |
$96,172±$30kHighest 29% above ME |
| West Gardiner and Mapleton 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 |
$305,100±$42kHighest about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$22 45% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,087±$150Highest 5% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | — | $1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,282Highest 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
57.1%±9.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
88.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
24 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
13.8%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| West Gardiner and Mapleton 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 | — | — | #90 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.