What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alfred has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).

Monmouth has the most people working from home (23%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Alfred	Monmouth
People
Population	3,125Lowest	4,162Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-0.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.9±5.3Lowest about the ME average	46.2±1.5Highest 3% above ME
	Monmouth and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±6.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	19%±6.1Highest ME: 18.1%
	Monmouth and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.4%±5.9Highest ME: 22.4%	18.4%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Alfred and Monmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%	33.6%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%	2.2%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8%
	Monmouth and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,321±$18kHighest 10% above ME	$74,648±$18kLowest about the ME average
	Alfred and Monmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$342,300±$38kHighest 15% above ME	$274,100±$21kLowest 8% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,035±$432Lowest 9% below ME	$1,271±$175Highest 12% above ME
	Monmouth and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,543Highest 17% above ME	$3,139Lowest 3% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	82.2%±29.5Highest ME: 48.4%	54.6%±46.6Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Alfred and Monmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Lowest ME: 10.7%	9.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME	1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 13% above ME	30 minHighest 22% above ME
Work from home	7.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%	23%±11Highest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#74 of 133 in ME	#51 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 57/MSAD 57	RSU 02
High school in town	None in town	Monmouth Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.