Compare towns
Danforth vs Perham vs Wade 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).
Perham has the most homeowners (92.5%).
Wade has the most expensive homes ($157k median).
Island Falls has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Wade | Island Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 452 |
326 |
244Lowest |
768Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -9.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±5.3 16% above ME |
53±12.9 18% above ME |
53.6±18.5Highest 20% above ME |
50.7±10.6Lowest 13% above ME |
| Wade and Perham 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% |
16.4%±6.7 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±7.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Island Falls and Perham 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% |
24.5%±2.3 ME: 22.4% |
34.8%±10.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.3%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Wade and Island Falls 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% |
33.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
12.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Island Falls 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±$11k 43% below ME |
$62,500±$22kHighest 16% below ME |
$41,818±$25kLowest 44% below ME |
$56,328±$8k 25% below ME |
| Perham and Island Falls 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 |
$157,100±$109kHighest 47% below ME |
$108,300±$25k 63% below ME |
| Wade and Perham 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 |
— | — | $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 | — | $1,641Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,655 45% below ME |
$1,720Highest 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±71.8 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
17.9%±51.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Perham and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12% ME: 10.7% |
2.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.2% ME: 10.7% |
20.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.4% ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1960 17 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
34 minHighest 37% above ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±7.2 ME: 15.9% |
10.1%±6.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Wade and Perham 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 | 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.