Compare towns
Somerville 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
Somerville has the youngest population (median age 33.5).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Jefferson has the most people working from home (8.9%).
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 | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 837 |
452Lowest |
2,647Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | +5.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME |
51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
38.1±4.9 15% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
28%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Somerville and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Jefferson 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% |
27.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Jefferson and Danforth 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 |
$85,078±$17kHighest 14% above ME |
| Jefferson 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±$41k 26% below ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
$629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,120±$130 about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,505Lowest 17% below ME |
— | $2,587Highest 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Somerville and Jefferson 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% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 3.9%±2.3 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Jefferson and Somerville 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 | — | — | #45 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 12 | — | Jefferson Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.