Compare towns
Alexander vs Amherst vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alexander has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Amherst has the most expensive homes ($210k median).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
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 | Alexander | Amherst | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 553 |
424Lowest |
1,884Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.8±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
50.9±9.9 14% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Alexander and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.3%±8.6 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.6 ME: 22.4% |
24.3%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Amherst and Alexander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.8%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Alexander and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,750±$10kHighest 25% above ME |
$72,656±$12kLowest about the ME average |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
| Alexander and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$54k 35% below ME |
$210,200±$38kHighest 29% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Amherst and Alexander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $610±$277 46% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,781 41% below ME |
$1,527Lowest 50% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Amherst and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% ME: 10.7% |
6.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3% ME: 74.3% |
96.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 26% below ME |
27 min 11% above ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Amherst and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Alexander Public Schools | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.