Compare towns
Alexander vs Mapleton vs Washburn vs Sebec
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 youngest population (median age 41.8).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k median).
Sebec has the most people working from home (13.2%).
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 | Washburn | Sebec |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 553 |
1,884Highest |
1,355 |
547Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-9.5%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 |
48.2±7.7 8% above ME |
49.3±7.6 10% 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%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±5.9 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% |
24%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Washburn 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
32% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±3.6 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 |
$56,196±$6kLowest 25% below ME |
$74,545±$37k about the ME average |
| 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±$23k 35% below ME |
$112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME |
$233,000±$40kHighest 21% below ME |
| Sebec and Alexander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Highest 46% below ME |
$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME |
— |
| Mapleton and Washburn 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 |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,571Lowest 48% below ME |
$1,810Highest 40% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±24.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Washburn and Mapleton 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% |
12.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
97.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 26% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
21 min 15% below ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
13.2%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Sebec 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 | RSU 45/MSAD 45 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Washburn District High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0 |
— |
| 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.