Compare towns
Jefferson vs Danforth vs Whitefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the most kids (28% under 18).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Whitefield has the most people working from home (13.5%).
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 | Jefferson | Danforth | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,647Highest |
452Lowest |
2,157 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | +4.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
51.9±5.2Highest 16% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.6%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
29.1%±4.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Whitefield and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6% ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
32.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Jefferson and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,078±$17kHighest 14% above ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$73,875±$10k about the ME average |
| Jefferson and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$242,300±$24k 18% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$130Highest about the ME average |
$629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
$895±$126 21% below ME |
| Jefferson and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,587Highest 15% below ME |
— | $2,366Lowest 22% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±22.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Whitefield and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.9%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.5%±6.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Whitefield and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #45 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Jefferson Public Schools | — | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.