Compare towns
Wilton vs Danforth vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilton has the most people working from home (13.1%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Wilton | Danforth | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,862 |
452Lowest |
4,657Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | -4.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.1±6.6 about the ME average |
51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
| Danforth and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Wilton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wilton and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,396±$23k 15% below ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$70,238±$19kHighest 6% below ME |
| Jay and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $202,000±$30kHighest 32% below ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
| Wilton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $446±$274Lowest 61% below ME |
$629±$22 45% below ME |
$759±$141Highest 33% below ME |
| Jay and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,344Highest 23% below ME |
— | $2,245Lowest 26% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±31.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Wilton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
9.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 14% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 13.1%±7.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Wilton and Jay 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 | #121 of 133 in ME | — | #86 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 09 | — | RSU 73 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Spruce Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
| 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.