Compare towns
Island Falls vs Mapleton vs Danforth vs Sherman
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).
Mapleton has the most expensive homes ($192k median).
Danforth has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.3%).
Sherman has the most people working from home (28.2%).
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 | Mapleton | Danforth | Sherman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 768 |
1,884Highest |
666Lowest |
947 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-0.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.7±10.6 13% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
33.4±8.6Lowest 25% below 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%±7.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
33.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 26.3%±2.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±5.8 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
13.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±0.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Island Falls 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$49,444±$7k 34% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $108,300±$25k 63% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$115,200±$14k 61% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $636±$124 44% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$629±$29 45% below ME |
$672±$329Highest 41% below ME |
| Sherman and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,720 43% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,328 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.9%±51.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
46.7%±77.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Sherman 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% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
37.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
81.6% ME: 74.3% |
88.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 16% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
28 minHighest 15% above ME |
22 min 11% below ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
28.2%±12.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | — |
| High school 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.