Compare towns
Danforth vs Surry 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).
Surry has the most expensive homes ($296k 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 | Surry | Island Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 452Lowest |
1,836Highest |
768 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±5.3 16% above ME |
52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
50.7±10.6Lowest 13% above ME |
| Surry and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.7 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±7.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Island Falls and Surry 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% |
30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.3%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Surry 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% |
38.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
12.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Island Falls 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 |
$74,508±$12kHighest about the ME average |
$56,328±$8k 25% below ME |
| Surry 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 |
$296,300±$36kHighest about the ME average |
$108,300±$25k 63% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
$969±$129Highest 15% below ME |
$636±$124 44% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | — | $1,903Highest 37% below ME |
$1,720Lowest 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
17.9%±51.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Surry 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% |
7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
20.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Surry and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Surry Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.