Compare towns
Danforth vs Meddybemps vs Orient vs Sangerville
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).
Meddybemps has the oldest population (median age 63.9).
Orient has the most people working from home (81%).
Sangerville 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 | Meddybemps | Orient | Sangerville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666 |
139 |
137Lowest |
1,136Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | — | -2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.1±4.4Lowest 19% above ME |
63.9±4.2Highest 43% above ME |
62±9 38% above ME |
53.9±6.9 20% above ME |
| Meddybemps and Orient are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
5%±21.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.8%±18.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.1%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Orient and Sangerville 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% |
39.6%±15.4 ME: 22.4% |
46%±10.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.1%±4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Orient and Meddybemps 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% ME: 36.2% |
25%Highest ME: 36.2% |
12.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
5%±10.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
0%±11.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Meddybemps and Sangerville 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 |
$48,000±$13kLowest 36% below ME |
— | $50,313±$14kHighest 33% below ME |
| Sangerville and Danforth 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±$73k about the ME average |
$548,600±$183kHighest 85% above ME |
$124,000±$40k 58% below ME |
| Orient and Meddybemps 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 |
— | — | $850±$136Highest 25% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,270 58% below ME |
$1,206Lowest 60% below ME |
— | $1,349Highest 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.6%±27.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 13.9% ME: 10.7% |
7.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
35.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.1% ME: 74.3% |
93.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 15% above ME |
31 minHighest 28% above ME |
— | 20 minLowest 18% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
5.4%±7.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
81%±44Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.7%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
| 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.