Compare towns
Alexander vs Andover vs Appleton vs Amherst
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).
Andover has the most people working from home (23.2%).
Appleton has the most renters (17.4% rent).
Amherst has the most kids (19.3% 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 | Alexander | Andover | Appleton | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 553 |
679 |
1,360Highest |
424Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -8.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 52.8±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
51.8±3.9 16% above ME |
49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
50.9±9.9 14% above ME |
| Alexander and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±6.6 ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
19.3%±8.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Amherst and Alexander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.1%±6.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
24.3%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Andover and Appleton 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% |
24.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.8%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Alexander and Amherst 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 |
$49,922±$9kLowest 33% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$72,656±$12k about the ME average |
| Alexander and Amherst 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 |
$168,300±$22kLowest 43% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$210,200±$38k 29% below ME |
| Appleton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,781 41% below ME |
$1,513Lowest 50% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,527 50% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
50%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Andover and Appleton 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% |
16.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
6.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3% ME: 74.3% |
97.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 26% below ME |
30 min 21% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
27 min 11% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
23.2%±15.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Andover and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Alexander Public Schools | Andover Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.