Compare towns

Danforth vs Mercer vs Chapman

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).
Mercer has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).

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.

MeasureDanforthMercerChapman
People
Population
452
718Highest
388Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6.8%
ME: +2.6%
—
Median age
51.9±5.3Highest
16% above ME
43.4±4.5Lowest
3% below ME
45.7±11.4
about the ME average
Danforth and Chapman 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%
20.1%±6.4
ME: 18.1%
27.6%±5.9Highest
ME: 18.1%
Chapman and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.6%±5.8Lowest
ME: 22.4%
25.9%±5.6
ME: 22.4%
27.6%±3.8Highest
ME: 22.4%
Chapman and Mercer 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%
34.1%Highest
ME: 36.2%
22.8%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±2.9
ME: 5.8%
0.7%±1.7Lowest
ME: 5.8%
5.2%±2.6Highest
ME: 5.8%
Chapman 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
$71,107±$2k
5% below ME
$93,125±$17kHighest
25% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$85,200±$20kLowest
71% below ME
$238,500±$32kHighest
20% below ME
$185,700±$22k
37% below ME
Mercer and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$629±$22Lowest
45% below ME
$1,422±$249Highest
25% above ME
—
Property taxmedian, yearly —
$1,970Highest
35% below ME
$1,850Lowest
39% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
11.5%±71.8
ME: 48.4%
18.5%±74Highest
ME: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Mercer 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%
13.6%Highest
ME: 10.7%
6.4%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.4%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
92.1%
ME: 74.3%
94.5%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Lowest
4 yrs newer than ME
1987Highest
10 yrs newer than ME
1982
5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
9% above ME
30 minHighest
23% above ME
23 minLowest
6% below ME
Work from home
3%±2.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
20.5%±8.9Highest
ME: 15.9%
4.8%±3.5
ME: 15.9%
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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.