What stands out worked out from the figures below

Merrill has the most kids (41.7% under 18).

Danforth has the oldest population (median age 53.1).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Merrill	Danforth
People
Population	372Lowest	666Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-0.3% ME: +2.6%
Median age	33.2±9.9Lowest 26% below ME	53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME
Kids under 18	41.7%±11Highest ME: 18.1%	13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	14%±5.8Lowest ME: 22.4%	26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.3%Highest ME: 36.2%	9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	1.7%±2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Danforth and Merrill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,536±$8kHighest 12% below ME	$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$131,600±$21kHighest 56% below ME	$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME
	Merrill and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$629±$29 45% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,449Highest 52% below ME	$1,270Lowest 58% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Merrill and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%	13.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987 10 yrs newer than ME	1987 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 19% above ME	28 minLowest 15% above ME
Work from home	13.2%±6.6Highest ME: 15.9%	5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Merrill and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.