Compare towns
Alexander vs Appleton vs Cooper
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 highest household income ($94k).
Appleton has the most renters (17.4% rent).
Cooper has the most people working from home (13.5%).
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 | Appleton | Cooper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 553 |
1,360Highest |
157Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 52.8±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
46.5±9.1Lowest 4% above ME |
| Alexander and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±17 ME: 18.1% |
| Alexander and Cooper 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% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±14 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Cooper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±9.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Alexander and Cooper 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 |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$48,750±$15kLowest 35% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$54kLowest 35% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$212,500±$66k 28% below ME |
| Appleton and Cooper 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 | $1,781Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,929 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
— |
| Appleton and Alexander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
20.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 26% below ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
44 minHighest 78% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
13.5%±11Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Cooper 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 | Appleton Public Schools | — |
| 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.