Compare towns
Somerville vs Danforth vs Washington 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
Waldo has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Washington | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 837 |
666Lowest |
1,624Highest |
926 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
48.2±6.7 8% above ME |
37.5±9.6 16% below ME |
| Danforth and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Somerville and Waldo 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% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Washington 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% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
17.3% ME: 36.2% |
36.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
| Washington and Somerville 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 |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$59,861±$17k 20% 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 |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$195,200±$36k 34% below ME |
$208,000±$41k 30% below ME |
| Somerville and Waldo 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 |
$1,036±$322 9% 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 |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$2,286 25% below ME |
$1,623 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±58.5 ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8 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% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
15.3% ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8% ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Waldo and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 12 | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Waldo-Region 7 |
| High school in town | None 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.