Compare towns
Alexander vs Lee 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).
Lee has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Amherst has the most expensive homes ($210k median).
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 | Lee | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 553 |
925Highest |
424Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.7% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 52.8±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
50.9±9.9Lowest 14% above ME |
| Alexander and Lee 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% |
21.8%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.3%±8.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Amherst 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% |
24.5%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.3%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Lee and Amherst 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% |
14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.8%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Alexander and Lee 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 |
$49,886±$5kLowest 33% 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 |
$174,500±$25kLowest 41% below ME |
$210,200±$38kHighest 29% below ME |
| Amherst and Alexander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,781Highest 41% below ME |
$1,547 49% below ME |
$1,527Lowest 50% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
50%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Lee and Amherst 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% |
19.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
96.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 26% below ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
27 min 11% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Lee and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Alexander Public Schools | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | — |
| 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.