Compare towns
Alexander vs Mapleton vs Sebec 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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Sebec has the most expensive homes ($233k median).
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 | Mapleton | Sebec | Cooper |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 553 |
1,884Highest |
547 |
157Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 52.8±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
49.3±7.6 10% above ME |
46.5±9.1 4% above ME |
| Alexander and Sebec 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%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±17Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Sebec 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% |
20.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±14Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Cooper and Sebec 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32% ME: 36.2% |
22.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±9.8 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 |
$74,545±$37k about the ME average |
$48,750±$15kLowest 35% 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±$54k 35% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$233,000±$40kHighest 21% below ME |
$212,500±$66k 28% below ME |
| Sebec and Cooper 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 |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,810 40% below ME |
$1,929Highest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
20.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
97.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
95% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 26% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
44 minHighest 78% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
13.2%±10.6 ME: 15.9% |
13.5%±11Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Cooper and Sebec 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 | 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.