Compare towns
Starks vs Danforth vs Mercer vs Madison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Mercer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Madison has the most renters (61.1% rent).
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 | Mercer | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 556Lowest |
666 |
718 |
2,676Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±9.4 4% above ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME |
44.9±12.3 about the ME average |
| Danforth and Starks 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% |
20.1%±6.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mercer 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% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.9%±5.6 ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±7.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Mercer 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% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
18.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Madison 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 |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$71,107±$2kHighest 5% below ME |
$61,698±$20k 17% below ME |
| Mercer 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 |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$238,500±$32kHighest 20% below ME |
$163,900±$59k 45% below ME |
| Mercer and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$301 7% below ME |
$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME |
$850±$218 25% below ME |
| Mercer and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,348 56% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,970Highest 35% below ME |
$1,740 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±90.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
18.5%±74Lowest ME: 48.4% |
22.5%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Starks and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
13%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% ME: 74.3% |
81.6% ME: 74.3% |
92.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1953Lowest 24 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 33% above ME |
28 minLowest 15% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
31 min 25% above ME |
| Work from home | 3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
20.5%±8.9 ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±14.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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.