Compare towns
Dyer Brook vs Merrill vs Danforth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dyer Brook has the highest household income ($73k).
Merrill has the most kids (41.7% under 18).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k 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 | Dyer Brook | Merrill | Danforth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 275Lowest |
372 |
452Highest |
| Median age | 38.7±11.8 14% below ME |
33.2±9.9Lowest 26% below ME |
51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
| Danforth and Dyer Brook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.4%±11 ME: 18.1% |
41.7%±11Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Merrill and Dyer Brook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.4%±8.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
14%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Merrill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.3% ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±6.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Dyer Brook and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,409±$27kHighest about the ME average |
$65,536±$8k 12% below ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
| Dyer Brook and Merrill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $135,000±$51kHighest 54% below ME |
$131,600±$21k 56% below ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
| Dyer Brook and Merrill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $629±$22 45% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,606Highest 47% below ME |
$1,449Lowest 52% below ME |
— |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±100 ME: 48.4% |
60%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Merrill and Dyer Brook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
29 minHighest 19% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.4%±6.1 ME: 15.9% |
13.2%±6.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Merrill and Dyer Brook 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.