Compare towns
Island Falls vs Danforth vs Alton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Island Falls has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Danforth has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.3%).
Alton has the most people working from home (15.3%).
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 | Island Falls | Danforth | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 768 |
666Lowest |
819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.7±10.6 13% above ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
49.1±5.9Lowest 10% above ME |
| Danforth and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±7.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Island Falls and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.3%±2.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Island Falls and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 12.9% ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
16.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Island Falls and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,328±$8k 25% below ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$62,955±$9kHighest 16% below ME |
| Alton and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $108,300±$25k 63% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$179,500±$25kHighest 39% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $636±$124 44% below ME |
$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$866±$48Highest 24% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,720Highest 43% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,476 51% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.9%±51.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
76.3%±88.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Alton and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.7% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
24.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.6% ME: 74.3% |
83.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 16% below ME |
28 minHighest 15% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 6.7%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±7.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Alton and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | RSU 34 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.