Compare towns
Alexander vs Mapleton vs New Sweden
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).
Mapleton has the most people working from home (10.8%).
New Sweden has the most affordable homes ($165k 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 | New Sweden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 553 |
1,884Highest |
494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.8±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
50.5±8 13% above ME |
| Alexander and New Sweden 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
23.1%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| New Sweden 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% |
30.8%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2%±2.6Lowest 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 |
$58,333±$23kLowest 22% 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 |
$164,700±$13kLowest 44% 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 |
$658±$518Highest 42% below ME |
| New Sweden and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,781Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,857Highest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
15.8%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Mapleton and New Sweden 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%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 26% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
28 minHighest 15% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.7%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Alexander 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.