Compare towns
Somerville vs Danforth vs Chesterville vs Waldo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Somerville has the youngest population (median age 33.5).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Chesterville has the most kids (31.3% under 18).
Waldo has the most people working from home (15.6%).
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 | Somerville | Danforth | Chesterville | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 837 |
452Lowest |
1,397Highest |
926 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME |
51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
37.8±4 16% below ME |
37.5±9.6 16% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±7 ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
31.3%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Chesterville and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
15%±3 ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.7% ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
20.4% ME: 36.2% |
36.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Danforth and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$15k 5% below ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$61,635±$10k 18% below ME |
$71,458±$21kHighest 4% below ME |
| Waldo and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,100±$41kHighest 26% below ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$214,000±$40k 28% below ME |
$208,000±$41k 30% below ME |
| Somerville and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
$629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,088±$73 4% below ME |
$1,150±$691 about the ME average |
| Somerville and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,505Highest 17% below ME |
— | $2,194 28% below ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±58.5 ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
21.8%±30.8 ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Somerville 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% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
86.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 9% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 3.9%±2.3 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 12 | — | — | Waldo-Region 7 |
| High school 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.