Compare towns
Danforth vs Dedham vs Searsmont
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 ($90k median).
Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Searsmont has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).
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.
| Measure | Danforth | Dedham | Searsmont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666Lowest |
1,656Highest |
1,646 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
44.5±9.8Lowest about the ME average |
| Danforth and Dedham 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% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Searsmont and Dedham 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 |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$87,000±$20k 16% above ME |
| Dedham and Searsmont 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 |
$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
$284,000±$31k 4% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$940±$311 17% below ME |
| Dedham and Searsmont 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 |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$2,788 8% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
41.4%±41.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Searsmont 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% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 15% above ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±10.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Searsmont and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Dedham Public Schools | RSU 71 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.