Compare towns
Danforth vs Dyer Brook vs Merrill
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 oldest population (median age 53.1).
Dyer Brook has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Merrill has the most kids (41.7% 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 | Dyer Brook | Merrill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666Highest |
275Lowest |
372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
— | — |
| Median age | 53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
38.7±11.8 14% below ME |
33.2±9.9Lowest 26% below ME |
| Danforth and Dyer Brook 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% |
24.4%±11 ME: 18.1% |
41.7%±11Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Merrill and Dyer Brook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
12.4%±8.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
14%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±6.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Dyer Brook 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 |
$73,409±$27kHighest about the ME average |
$65,536±$8k 12% below ME |
| Dyer Brook and Merrill 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 |
$135,000±$51kHighest 54% below ME |
$131,600±$21k 56% below ME |
| Dyer Brook and Merrill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$29 45% below ME |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,606Highest 47% below ME |
$1,449 52% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50%±100 ME: 48.4% |
60%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Merrill and Dyer Brook 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% |
6.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 15% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
29 minHighest 19% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±6.1 ME: 15.9% |
13.2%±6.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Merrill and Dyer Brook 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.