Compare towns
Somerville vs Danforth vs Freedom
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Somerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Freedom has the most people working from home (8.4%).
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 | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 837Highest |
666Lowest |
670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
-1.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
40.1±2.7 10% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Somerville and Freedom 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% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
23.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Somerville 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±$15kHighest 5% below ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$64,861±$12k 13% below ME |
| Somerville and Freedom 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 |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$190,600±$69k 36% below ME |
| Somerville and Freedom 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±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,505Highest 17% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$2,328 23% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
21.1%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Somerville 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% |
11.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8% ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% above ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±3.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Freedom and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 12 | — | — |
| High school 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.