Compare towns
Shirley vs Danforth 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
Shirley has the most expensive homes ($220k median).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Dyer Brook has the most kids (24.4% under 18).
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 | Shirley | Danforth | Dyer Brook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 234Lowest |
666Highest |
275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 42±8.2 6% below ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
38.7±11.8Lowest 14% below ME |
| Danforth and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±9.2 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.4%±11Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Dyer Brook and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
12.4%±8.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Shirley and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6% ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±5.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±6.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Dyer Brook and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,875±$22k 17% below ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$73,409±$27kHighest about the ME average |
| Dyer Brook and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,600±$36kHighest 26% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$135,000±$51k 54% below ME |
| Shirley 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 | $2,522Highest 17% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,606 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Dyer Brook and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
6.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 99%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 17% below ME |
28 minHighest 15% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 5.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±6.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Dyer Brook 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.