Compare towns
Danforth vs Strong vs Sumner 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).
Strong has the most expensive homes ($184k median).
Sumner has the highest household income ($58k).
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 | Strong | Sumner | Monticello |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 452Lowest |
1,249Highest |
845 |
674 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±5.3 16% above ME |
47.5±8.9Lowest 6% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
52.7±6 18% above ME |
| Sumner and Monticello 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% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
13.8%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Strong and Sumner 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% |
22%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
28.2%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Monticello 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% |
26.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
9.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$47,557±$10k 36% below ME |
$57,750±$19kHighest 23% below ME |
$51,875±$13k 31% below ME |
| Sumner 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 |
$183,900±$29kHighest 38% below ME |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
$125,800±$36k 58% below ME |
| Strong and Sumner 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 |
$920±$276Highest 19% below ME |
— | $833±$434 27% below ME |
| Strong and Monticello are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | — | $1,950 36% below ME |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,200Lowest 60% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.5%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner 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% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 10 | — |
| High school in town | — | None 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.