Compare towns
Starks vs Danforth vs Norridgewock vs Mercer
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).
Norridgewock has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Mercer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
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 | Mercer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 556Lowest |
666 |
3,288Highest |
718 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
-2.6% ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±9.4 4% above ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
50.3±11 12% above ME |
43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below 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% |
10.5%±5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.1%±6.4Highest 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%±7.5 ME: 22.4% |
25.9%±5.6 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% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Norridgewock 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 |
$61,579±$19k 18% below ME |
$71,107±$2kHighest 5% 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 |
$151,900±$52k 49% below ME |
$238,500±$32kHighest 20% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$301 7% below ME |
$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,063±$588 7% below ME |
$1,422±$249Highest 25% above 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 |
$1,462 52% below ME |
$1,970Highest 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
53.4%±46.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
18.5%±74Lowest 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% ME: 10.7% |
20.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.2% ME: 74.3% |
92.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1984Lowest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 33% above ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
22 minLowest 10% below ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
22.3%±13.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.5%±8.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Norridgewock and Mercer 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.