Compare towns
Danforth vs Mapleton vs Mars Hill 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.3%).
Mapleton has the most people working from home (10.8%).
Mars Hill has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Monticello has the most homeowners (88.2%).
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 | Mapleton | Mars Hill | Monticello |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,398 |
674 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-6.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
43.4±3 3% below 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.8%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mars Hill and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±5.8 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
9.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Mars Hill 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$65,273±$9k 13% below ME |
$51,875±$13k 31% below ME |
| Mapleton and Mars Hill 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 |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$163,600±$23k 45% below ME |
$125,800±$36k 58% below ME |
| Mapleton and Mars Hill 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 |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$488±$96Lowest 57% 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 |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,843Highest 39% below ME |
$1,200Lowest 60% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1 ME: 48.4% |
37.5%±62.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Monticello 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% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
19.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 15% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6 ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Monticello are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 42/MSAD 42 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.0 |
— |
| 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.