Compare towns
Danforth vs Shirley 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).
Shirley has the most expensive homes ($220k median).
Island Falls has the most kids (20.7% 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.
| Measure | Danforth | Shirley | Island Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 452 |
234Lowest |
768Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -9.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
42±8.2Lowest 6% below ME |
50.7±10.6 13% above ME |
| Danforth and Island Falls 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% |
16.2%±9.2 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±7.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Island Falls and Shirley 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% |
26.5%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.3%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Shirley 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% |
30.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
12.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±5.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Shirley and Island Falls 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 |
$61,875±$22kHighest 17% below ME |
$56,328±$8k 25% below ME |
| Shirley 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 |
$219,600±$36kHighest 26% below ME |
$108,300±$25k 63% below ME |
| 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 | — | $2,522Highest 17% below ME |
$1,720Lowest 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
— | 17.9%±51.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Island Falls and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17% ME: 10.7% |
20.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
99%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 9% above ME |
21 minLowest 17% below ME |
21 min 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
5.3%±4.9 ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±5.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Island Falls and Shirley 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.