What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).

Belmont has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Danforth	Belmont
People
Population	666Lowest	876Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+3.6%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	53.1±4.4Lowest 19% above ME	54.5±9.2Highest 22% above ME
	Belmont and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	17.2%±3.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Belmont and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 22.4%	33.7%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4%
	Belmont and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	21.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%	2.1%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8%
	Belmont and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME	$61,250±$15kHighest 18% below ME
	Belmont and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME	$217,500±$28kHighest 27% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME	$1,045±$410Highest 8% below ME
	Belmont and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,270Lowest 58% below ME	$2,445Highest 19% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	46.3%±25.4Highest ME: 48.4%
	Belmont and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.9%Highest ME: 10.7%	4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	86.8%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 15% above ME	24 minLowest 4% below ME
Work from home	5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	8.2%±3.4Highest ME: 15.9%
	Belmont and Danforth 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

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.