Compare towns
Starks vs Danforth vs Norridgewock vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Starks has the most homeowners (90%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Norridgewock has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Bridgewater has the most kids (17.1% 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 | Starks | Danforth | Norridgewock | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 556 |
452Lowest |
3,288Highest |
484 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.3% ME: +2.6% |
— | -2.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±9.4Lowest 4% above ME |
51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
50.3±11 12% above ME |
48.8±8 9% above ME |
| Danforth and Norridgewock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6 ME: 18.1% |
10.5%±5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Bridgewater and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
25%±7.5 ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bridgewater and Norridgewock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21% ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
18.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Bridgewater and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,500±$8k 15% below ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$61,579±$19k 18% below ME |
$65,417±$15kHighest 12% below ME |
| Bridgewater and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $148,500±$27k 50% below ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$151,900±$52k 49% below ME |
$154,900±$78kHighest 48% below ME |
| Bridgewater and Norridgewock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$301Highest 7% below ME |
$629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,063±$588Highest 7% below ME |
$768±$116 33% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
— | $1,462Highest 52% below ME |
$1,417 53% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.4%±46.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
38.9%±59.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Norridgewock and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.2% ME: 10.7% |
12%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
20.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.2% ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 33% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
22 minLowest 10% below ME |
22 minLowest 10% below ME |
| Work from home | 3.3%±2.4 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22.3%±13.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±5.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Norridgewock and Bridgewater 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 | — | — | #91 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | — | RSU 54/MSAD 54 | — |
| High school 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.