Compare towns
Alexander vs Mapleton vs Whiting vs Andover
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 kids (22.2% under 18).
Whiting has the most expensive homes ($214k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (23.2%).
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 | Whiting | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 553 |
1,884Highest |
506Lowest |
679 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -8.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.8±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
50±5 12% above ME |
51.8±3.9 16% above 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%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.8%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Alexander 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% |
27.5%±6.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.1%±6.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Whiting and Andover 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% ME: 36.2% |
34.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest 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 |
$55,263±$2k 26% below ME |
$49,922±$9kLowest 33% 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±$23k 35% below ME |
$214,200±$52kHighest 28% below ME |
$168,300±$22kLowest 43% below ME |
| Whiting 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 |
$600±$333Lowest 47% below ME |
— |
| Mapleton and Whiting 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 |
$1,728 43% below ME |
$1,513Lowest 50% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Andover and Whiting 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% |
16.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.6% ME: 74.3% |
97.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 26% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
22 min 10% below ME |
30 minHighest 21% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.7%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
23.2%±15.8Highest 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 | Whiting Public Schools | Andover 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.