Compare towns
Danforth vs Dyer Brook vs Shirley
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).
Dyer Brook has the most kids (24.4% under 18).
Shirley has the most expensive homes ($220k median).
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 | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666Highest |
275 |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
— | — |
| Median age | 53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
38.7±11.8Lowest 14% below ME |
42±8.2 6% below ME |
| Danforth and Shirley 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%±11Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±9.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Dyer Brook and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
12.4%±8.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.5%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Shirley 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% |
34.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±6.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±5.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Dyer Brook and Shirley 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 |
$61,875±$22k 17% below ME |
| Dyer Brook and Shirley 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±$51k 54% below ME |
$219,600±$36kHighest 26% below ME |
| Shirley and Dyer Brook 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 |
$1,606 47% below ME |
$2,522Highest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
— |
| Dyer Brook and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.9% ME: 10.7% |
6.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
99%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1984Lowest 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 15% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
21 minLowest 17% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±6.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Dyer Brook 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 | 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.