Compare towns
Danforth vs Merrill vs Wesley
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 oldest population (median age 53.1).
Merrill has the most kids (41.7% under 18).
Wesley has the most affordable homes ($69k 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.
| Measure | Danforth | Merrill | Wesley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666Highest |
372 |
320Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
— | — |
| Median age | 53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
33.2±9.9Lowest 26% below ME |
37.3±3.1 17% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
41.7%±11Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±6.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
14%±5.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Wesley 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% |
22.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Wesley 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±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$65,536±$8kHighest 12% below ME |
$63,125±$34k 16% below ME |
| Merrill and Wesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $89,900±$36k 70% below ME |
$131,600±$21kHighest 56% below ME |
$68,800±$21kLowest 77% below ME |
| Merrill and Danforth 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 |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,270 58% below ME |
$1,449Highest 52% below ME |
$558Lowest 82% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
60%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Merrill 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% |
5.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
34.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.2% ME: 74.3% |
91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 15% above ME |
29 min 19% above ME |
48 minHighest 96% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
13.2%±6.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
1.9%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Merrill and Danforth 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 | 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.