Compare towns
Alexander vs Cooper 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).
Cooper has the most people working from home (13.5%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% 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 | Cooper | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 553 |
157Lowest |
1,884Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.8±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
46.5±9.1 4% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Alexander and Cooper 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% |
16.6%±17Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Alexander 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% |
22.9%±14Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Cooper 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% ME: 36.2% |
22.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±9.8Lowest 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 |
$48,750±$15kLowest 35% below ME |
$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 |
$212,500±$66kHighest 28% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Cooper 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 | $1,781Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,929Highest 36% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
— | 16.7%±10.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Mapleton 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% |
20.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
95% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 26% below ME |
44 minHighest 78% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.5%±11Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Cooper 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.