Compare towns
Merrill vs Danforth vs Cambridge vs Dyer Brook
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 kids (41.7% under 18).
Danforth has the oldest population (median age 53.1).
Cambridge has the most expensive homes ($215k median).
Dyer Brook has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Dyer Brook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 372 |
666Highest |
532 |
275Lowest |
| 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 |
38.7±11.8 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% |
24.4%±11 ME: 18.1% |
| Merrill and Dyer Brook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.6%±8 ME: 22.4% |
12.4%±8.8Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±3 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±6.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Dyer Brook and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,536±$8k 12% below ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$63,194±$39k 15% below ME |
$73,409±$27kHighest about the ME average |
| Dyer Brook and Merrill 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 |
$135,000±$51k 54% below ME |
| Cambridge and Dyer Brook 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 | $1,449 52% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,574 48% below ME |
$1,606Highest 47% 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% |
50%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Merrill and Dyer Brook 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% |
6.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.2% ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest 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 |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 19% above ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
41 minHighest 65% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 13.2%±6.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
1.7%±1.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±6.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Merrill and Dyer Brook 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 | 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.