Compare towns
Danforth vs Lee vs Springfield vs Monticello
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).
Lee has the most expensive homes ($175k median).
Springfield has the highest household income ($61k).
Monticello has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
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 | Lee | Springfield | Monticello |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666 |
925Highest |
310Lowest |
674 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.7% ME: +2.6% |
— | -6.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
51.5±11.5Lowest 15% above ME |
52.4±7 17% above ME |
52.7±6 18% above ME |
| Danforth and Monticello 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% |
21.8%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
13.8%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Springfield 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% |
24.5%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
21.6%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
28.2%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Monticello 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% |
14.1% ME: 36.2% |
17.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
9.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Lee and Monticello 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 |
$49,886±$5k 33% below ME |
$60,833±$23kHighest 19% below ME |
$51,875±$13k 31% below ME |
| Springfield and Monticello 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 |
$174,500±$25kHighest 41% below ME |
$122,500±$28k 59% below ME |
$125,800±$36k 58% below ME |
| Lee and Monticello are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
— | — | $833±$434Highest 27% below ME |
| Monticello and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,270 58% below ME |
$1,547Highest 49% below ME |
$1,067Lowest 65% below ME |
$1,200 60% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
— | 37.5%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Lee and Monticello 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% |
19.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
96.2% ME: 74.3% |
88.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 15% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
30 min 21% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.6%±5.2 ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Lee and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.