Compare towns
Alexander vs Mapleton vs Andover vs Princeton
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%).
Princeton has the most affordable homes ($121k 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 | Mapleton | Andover | Princeton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 553Lowest |
1,884Highest |
679 |
866 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.4% ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.8±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
51.8±3.9 16% above ME |
39.1±9.4Lowest 13% below 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
28.2%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Princeton and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.1%±6.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±3.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Andover and Princeton 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.4% ME: 36.2% |
24.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.5 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 |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$49,922±$9kLowest 33% below ME |
$56,406±$26k 25% below 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±$54kHighest 35% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$168,300±$22k 43% below ME |
$120,800±$82kLowest 59% below ME |
| Alexander and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
— | $675±$351Highest 41% below ME |
| Princeton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,781 41% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$1,513Lowest 50% below ME |
$1,573 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
57.7%±23.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Andover and Princeton 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
16.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
15.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
97.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 26% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 21% above ME |
22 min 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 7.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
23.2%±15.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.6%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Andover 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 | Andover Public Schools | Princeton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None 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.