Compare towns
Danforth vs Mercer vs Starks
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).
Mercer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
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 | Mercer | Starks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666 |
718Highest |
556Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME |
46.7±9.4 4% above ME |
| Danforth and Starks 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% |
20.1%±6.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Mercer and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.9%±5.6 ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Mercer 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% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Danforth and Starks 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 |
$71,107±$2kHighest 5% below ME |
$63,500±$8k 15% below ME |
| Mercer and Starks 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 |
$238,500±$32kHighest 20% below ME |
$148,500±$27k 50% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME |
$1,063±$301 7% below ME |
| Mercer and Starks 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 |
$1,970Highest 35% below ME |
$1,348 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
18.5%±74Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Starks 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% |
13.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 15% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
20.5%±8.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.