Compare towns
Danforth vs Perham vs Springfield vs Union
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).
Perham has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Springfield has the most homeowners (96.2%).
Union has the most expensive homes ($268k 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 | Perham | Springfield | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 452 |
326 |
310Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±5.3 16% above ME |
53±12.9Highest 18% above ME |
52.4±7 17% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Perham and Springfield 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% |
19.6%±8.5 ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Perham 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% |
24.5%±2.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.6%±5.4 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Perham 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% |
18.7% ME: 36.2% |
17.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Union and Perham 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 |
$62,500±$22k 16% below ME |
$60,833±$23k 19% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
| Union and Perham 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 |
$117,600±$9k 60% below ME |
$122,500±$28k 59% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
— | — | $1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | — | $1,641 46% below ME |
$1,067Lowest 65% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
— | 24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Perham and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
2.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.5% ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5% ME: 74.3% |
96.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
30 minHighest 21% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±7.2 ME: 15.9% |
9.6%±5.2 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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.