What stands out worked out from the figures below

Searsmont has the most expensive homes ($284k median).

Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Searsmont	Danforth
People
Population	1,646Highest	666Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	-0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.5±9.8Lowest about the ME average	53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME
	Danforth and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1%	13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Searsmont and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4%	26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.6%Highest ME: 36.2%	9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8%	1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Searsmont and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,000±$20kHighest 16% above ME	$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$284,000±$31kHighest 4% below ME	$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$940±$311Highest 17% below ME	$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME
	Searsmont and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,788Highest 8% below ME	$1,270Lowest 58% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.4%±41.3Highest ME: 48.4%	36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Searsmont and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%	13.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME	1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	28 minHighest 15% above ME
Work from home	16.3%±10.1Highest ME: 15.9%	5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Searsmont and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 71	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.