What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danforth has the most kids (13.4% under 18).

Hersey has the most expensive homes ($163k 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.

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

Measure	Danforth	Hersey
People
Population	666Highest	47Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.3% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	53.1±4.4Lowest 19% above ME	60.5±3.2Highest 35% above ME
	Hersey and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.4%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1%	8.5%±58Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Danforth and Hersey 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%	34%±54.5Highest ME: 22.4%
	Hersey 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%	20.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±2Highest ME: 5.8%	0%±33.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Danforth and Hersey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$48,125±$8kHighest 36% below ME	$31,250±$26kLowest 58% below ME
	Danforth and Hersey 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	$162,500±$113kHighest 45% below ME
	Hersey and Danforth 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	$2,417Highest 20% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±57.5Highest ME: 48.4%	0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Danforth and Hersey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%	21.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	65.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME	2004Highest 27 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 15% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	5.9%±23.3Highest ME: 15.9%
	Hersey 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.