Compare towns
Alexander vs Unity 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 highest household income ($94k).
Unity has the youngest population (median age 27.5).
Andover has the most people working from home (23.2%).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 553Lowest |
1,858Highest |
679 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.8±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below 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%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Alexander and Unity 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% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.1%±6.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Andover and Alexander 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% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
24.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4.2 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,750±$10kHighest 25% above ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$49,922±$9kLowest 33% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$54k 35% below ME |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$168,300±$22kLowest 43% below ME |
| Unity and Alexander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $873±$73 23% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,781 41% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,513Lowest 50% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Andover and Unity 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% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
16.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
97.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 26% below ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
30 minHighest 21% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
23.2%±15.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Andover and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Alexander Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | Andover Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— |
| 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.