Compare towns
Danforth vs Merrill vs Monticello
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).
Merrill has the most kids (41.7% under 18).
Monticello has the oldest population (median age 52.7).
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 | Merrill | Monticello |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 452 |
372Lowest |
674Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -6.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±5.3 16% above ME |
33.2±9.9Lowest 26% below ME |
52.7±6Highest 18% 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% |
41.7%±11Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.8%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
14%±5.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
28.2%±4.4Highest 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% |
22.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
9.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Monticello 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 |
$65,536±$8kHighest 12% below ME |
$51,875±$13k 31% below ME |
| Merrill and Monticello 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 |
$131,600±$21kHighest 56% below ME |
$125,800±$36k 58% below ME |
| Merrill and Monticello 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 |
— | $833±$434Highest 27% below ME |
| Monticello and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | — | $1,449Highest 52% below ME |
$1,200Lowest 60% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
60%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.5%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Merrill and Monticello are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12% ME: 10.7% |
5.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% above ME |
29 min 19% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.2%±6.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Merrill and Monticello are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.