Compare towns
Danforth vs Mapleton vs Mount Chase vs Washburn
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).
Mapleton has the most expensive homes ($192k median).
Mount Chase has the most people working from home (22.2%).
Washburn has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Mount Chase | Washburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666 |
1,884Highest |
280Lowest |
1,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
— | -9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
49.9±10.9 11% above ME |
48.2±7.7 8% above ME |
| Danforth and Mount Chase 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%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.1%±10.6 ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Mount Chase 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% |
28.9%±6.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
24%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Mount Chase 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% |
32.1% ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±5.7 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $48,125±$8k 36% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$41,711±$7kLowest 44% below ME |
$56,196±$6k 25% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$115,700±$15k 61% below ME |
$112,900±$14k 62% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$29 45% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$1,281±$1kHighest 12% above ME |
$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME |
| Mount Chase and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$1,548 49% below ME |
$1,571 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±57.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
28.6%±100 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±24.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Danforth and Washburn 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% |
30.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 15% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
22.2%±12.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Mount Chase and Mapleton 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 45/MSAD 45 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | Washburn District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.0 |
| 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.