Compare towns
Starks vs Danforth vs Ludlow vs Norridgewock
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 highest household income ($64k).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Ludlow has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Norridgewock has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Ludlow | Norridgewock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 556 |
666 |
444Lowest |
3,288Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -2.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±9.4 4% above ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
46.1±5.8Lowest about the ME average |
50.3±11 12% 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% |
13.4%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
22.7%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
10.5%±5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Ludlow and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25%±7.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth 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% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
16.2% ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Ludlow and Norridgewock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,500±$8kHighest 15% below ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$62,500±$21k 16% below ME |
$61,579±$19k 18% below ME |
| Starks and Ludlow 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 |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$133,900±$56k 55% below ME |
$151,900±$52kHighest 49% below ME |
| Norridgewock and Starks 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±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$988±$111 13% below ME |
$1,063±$588Highest 7% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,348 56% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,655Highest 45% below ME |
$1,462 52% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±94.3 ME: 48.4% |
53.4%±46.5Highest 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% |
13.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.3% ME: 10.7% |
20.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1984Lowest 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 33% above ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
22 min 10% below ME |
| Work from home | 3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
9.8%±8 ME: 15.9% |
22.3%±13.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Norridgewock and Ludlow 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.