Compare towns
New Vineyard vs Danforth vs Starks vs Athens
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Vineyard has the most people working from home (16.7%).
Danforth has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.3%).
Starks has the highest household income ($64k).
Athens has the most homeowners (94.6%).
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 | New Vineyard | Danforth | Starks | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 607 |
666 |
556Lowest |
791Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8% ME: +2.6% |
-0.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-6.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.5±9.5 6% above ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
46.7±9.4Lowest 4% above ME |
47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
| Danforth and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.5%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5 ME: 18.1% |
| New Vineyard and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±2.7 ME: 22.4% |
| New Vineyard and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20% ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Athens and New Vineyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $61,806±$19k 17% below ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$63,500±$8kHighest 15% below ME |
$50,750±$14k 32% below ME |
| Starks and New Vineyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $190,000±$76kHighest 36% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$148,500±$27k 50% below ME |
$153,100±$33k 48% below ME |
| New Vineyard and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $925±$490 19% below ME |
$629±$29 45% below ME |
$1,063±$301Highest 7% below ME |
$538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
| Starks and New Vineyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,136Highest 30% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,348 56% below ME |
$1,355 55% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±5.3 ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and New Vineyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22.6% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.2% ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90% ME: 74.3% |
94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 39% above ME |
28 minLowest 15% above ME |
33 min 33% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.7%±8.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
| New Vineyard and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | — | Athens Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | — | — | None in town |
| 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.