Compare towns
Merrill vs Danforth vs Moose River
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).
Moose River has the shortest commute (15 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 | Moose River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 372 |
666Highest |
248Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 33.2±9.9 26% below ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
32.9±8.2Lowest 27% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 41.7%±11Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
32.3%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Merrill and Moose River 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% |
8.5%±10.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
14.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
4%±6.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Moose River 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±$8k 12% below ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$76,324±$9kHighest about the ME average |
| Moose River 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 |
$144,900±$31kHighest 51% below ME |
| Moose River and Merrill 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 |
$1,270 58% below ME |
$928Lowest 69% 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% |
14.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.2% ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 19% above ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
15 minLowest 39% below ME |
| Work from home | 13.2%±6.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
4.5%±5.9Lowest 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.