Compare towns
Jefferson vs Danforth vs Somerville 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 expensive homes ($312k median).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Somerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).
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 | Somerville | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,647Highest |
666Lowest |
837 |
2,157 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% ME: +2.6% |
-0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 38.1±4.9 15% below ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME |
51.9±5.2 16% above ME |
| Danforth and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.6%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Somerville and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
13.7%±2.9Lowest 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% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.7% ME: 36.2% |
32.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.7 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 |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$71,250±$15k 5% 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 |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$218,100±$41k 26% below ME |
$242,300±$24k 18% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$130 about the ME average |
$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
$895±$126 21% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,587Highest 15% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$2,505 17% below ME |
$2,366 22% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±22.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Somerville and Danforth 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% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
17%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.8% ME: 74.3% |
91.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.9%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
3.9%±2.3Lowest 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 | RSU 12 |
| 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.