Compare towns
Lagrange vs Danforth vs Chester vs Alton
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 ($90k median).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).
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 | Lagrange | Danforth | Chester | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 709 |
666 |
598Lowest |
819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+0.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±13.8 about the ME average |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
44±10Lowest about the ME average |
49.1±5.9 10% above ME |
| 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% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.4%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±3.5 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% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.6%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±2.4 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
16.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
1%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Lagrange and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $58,417±$14k 22% below ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$64,500±$8kHighest 14% below ME |
$62,955±$9k 16% 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 |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$172,500±$59k 42% below ME |
$179,500±$25kHighest 39% 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±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$833±$51 27% below ME |
$866±$48Highest 24% 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 |
$1,270 58% below ME |
$1,378 55% below ME |
$1,476Highest 51% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±56.2 ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±37.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
76.3%±88.9Highest 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% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
24.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.6% ME: 74.3% |
77.1% ME: 74.3% |
83.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 45% above ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
33 min 34% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 8.1%±4.8 ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±7.3Highest 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.