What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Meddybemps has the most expensive homes ($295k 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	Meddybemps
People
Population	666Highest	139Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.3% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	53.1±4.4Lowest 19% above ME	63.9±4.2Highest 43% above ME
Kids under 18	13.4%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1%	5%±21.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Danforth and Meddybemps 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%	39.6%±15.4Highest ME: 22.4%
	Meddybemps 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%	14.2%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%	5%±10.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Meddybemps and Danforth 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	$48,000±$13kLowest 36% below ME
	Danforth and Meddybemps 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	$295,000±$73kHighest about the ME average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$629±$29 45% below ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,270Highest 58% below ME	$1,206Lowest 60% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	100%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Meddybemps and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.9%Highest ME: 10.7%	7.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	87.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 15% above ME	31 minHighest 28% above ME
Work from home	5.8%±3.4Highest ME: 15.9%	5.4%±7.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Danforth and Meddybemps 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.