Compare towns
Lagrange vs Danforth vs Alton vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lagrange has the most renters (27.5% rent).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Alton has the most people working from home (15.3%).
Chester has the youngest population (median age 44).
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 | Lagrange | Danforth | Alton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 709 |
452Lowest |
819Highest |
598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | -6.9% ME: +2.6% |
+0.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±13.8 about the ME average |
51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
49.1±5.9 10% above ME |
44±10Lowest about the ME average |
| Danforth and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.7%±11.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
23.4%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Lagrange and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
18.6%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 9% ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
16.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
1%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $58,417±$14k 22% below ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$62,955±$9k 16% below ME |
$64,500±$8kHighest 14% below ME |
| Chester and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $126,000±$33k 58% below ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$179,500±$25kHighest 39% below ME |
$172,500±$59k 42% below ME |
| Alton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $831±$151 27% below ME |
$629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
$866±$48Highest 24% below ME |
$833±$51 27% below ME |
| Alton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $869Lowest 71% below ME |
— | $1,476Highest 51% below ME |
$1,378 55% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±56.2 ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
76.3%±88.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±37.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Alton and Lagrange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.4% ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
24.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.4% ME: 74.3% |
83.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 45% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
33 min 34% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.1%±4.8 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±7.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Alton and Chester 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 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.