Compare towns
Merrill vs Danforth vs Cambridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Merrill has the most people working from home (13.2%).
Danforth has the oldest population (median age 53.1).
Cambridge has the most expensive homes ($215k median).
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 | Merrill | Danforth | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 372Lowest |
666Highest |
532 |
| 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 |
38.7±1.1 14% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 41.7%±11Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±8.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 14%±5.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.6%±8 ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cambridge and Danforth 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 |
$63,194±$39k 15% below ME |
| Merrill and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $131,600±$21k 56% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$214,900±$61kHighest 28% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $629±$29 45% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,449 52% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,574Highest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% ME: 10.7% |
14.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.2% ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 19% above ME |
28 minLowest 15% above ME |
41 minHighest 65% above ME |
| Work from home | 13.2%±6.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
1.7%±1.5Lowest 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 | 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.