Compare towns
Pittston vs Union vs Danforth vs Jefferson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pittston has the highest household income ($87k).
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Jefferson has the most expensive homes ($312k 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 | Pittston | Union | Danforth | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,093Highest |
2,663 |
452Lowest |
2,647 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
— | +5.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.4±5.9 8% below ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
| Danforth and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±7.4 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4 ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±6.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
27.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±4.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Pittston and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,614±$18kHighest 16% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$85,078±$17k 14% above ME |
| Pittston and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,700±$66k 20% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME |
| Jefferson and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$593 5% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,120±$130 about the ME average |
| Union and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,909Lowest 37% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
— | $2,587 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±34.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Pittston and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2% ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 7% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 3.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #123 of 133 in ME | — | — | #45 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 11/MSAD 11 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — | Jefferson Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.