Compare towns
Danforth vs Phillips vs Strong vs Wayne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danforth has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.3%).
Phillips has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Strong has the youngest population (median age 47.5).
Wayne has the highest household income ($93k).
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 | Phillips | Strong | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666Lowest |
1,094 |
1,249Highest |
1,101 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5% ME: +2.6% |
-5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.1±4.4 19% above ME |
49.7±3.7 11% above ME |
47.5±8.9Lowest 6% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
| Wayne and Danforth 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% |
20.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Phillips and Strong 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% |
21.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne 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% |
20.7% ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Phillips 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 |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$47,557±$10k 36% below ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$190,800±$18k 36% below ME |
$183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$29 45% below ME |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
$983±$554Highest 14% below ME |
| Wayne and Strong 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 |
$2,582 15% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Phillips 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% |
17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 15% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.