Compare towns
Waltham vs Danforth vs Chapman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waltham has the most people working from home (13.4%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% 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 | Waltham | Danforth | Chapman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 346Lowest |
452Highest |
388 |
| Median age | 56.4±9.3Highest 26% above ME |
51.9±5.3 16% above ME |
45.7±11.4Lowest about the ME average |
| Waltham and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15%±8.1 ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 32.9%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.6%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Waltham and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,071±$14k 5% below ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
| Chapman and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $181,300±$22k 39% below ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$185,700±$22kHighest 37% below ME |
| Chapman and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$567Highest 25% below ME |
$629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
— |
| Waltham and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,452Lowest 52% below ME |
— | $1,850Highest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 15%±96.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Waltham and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 67% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
23 minLowest 6% below ME |
| Work from home | 13.4%±6.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Waltham and Chapman 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 |
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.