Compare towns
Mars Hill vs Danforth vs Union vs Searsport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mars Hill has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Searsport has the most people working from home (20.2%).
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 | Mars Hill | Danforth | Union | Searsport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,398 |
666Lowest |
2,663Highest |
2,655 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±3 3% below ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
42.9±7.2 4% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.8%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.7%±7.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26% ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±3.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Mars Hill and Searsport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,273±$9k 13% below ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$64,303±$19k 14% below ME |
| Union and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,600±$23k 45% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$224,400±$78k 24% below ME |
| Union and Searsport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $488±$96Lowest 57% below ME |
$629±$29 45% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$1,105±$87 about the ME average |
| Union and Searsport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,843 39% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$2,225 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.6%±7.1 ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
48.2%±25.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Searsport and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
14.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6% ME: 74.3% |
81.6% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
69.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1975 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
22 min 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 6.9%±6.6 ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
20.2%±9.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Searsport and Union 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 | — | — | — | #109 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 42/MSAD 42 | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 20 |
| High school in town | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S | — | None in town | Searsport District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.0Lowest |
— | — | 8.2Highest |
| 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.