What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alfred has the shortest commute (28 min average).

Shapleigh has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).

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.

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

Measure	Alfred	Shapleigh
People
Population	3,125Highest	2,976Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.9±5.3Lowest about the ME average	46.9±10Highest 5% above ME
	Shapleigh 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%	20.7%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Shapleigh 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%	24.1%±4.8Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Alfred and Shapleigh 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%	29.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%	2.8%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8%
	Shapleigh 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±$18kLowest 10% above ME	$88,140±$9kHighest 18% above ME
	Shapleigh and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$342,300±$38kLowest 15% above ME	$356,000±$21kHighest 20% above ME
	Shapleigh and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,035±$432Lowest 9% below ME	$1,349±$133Highest 18% above ME
	Shapleigh 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	$2,603Lowest 14% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	82.2%±29.5Highest ME: 48.4%	27.3%±61.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Alfred and Shapleigh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Highest ME: 10.7%	5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	95.4%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 13% above ME	33 minHighest 32% above ME
Work from home	7.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%	13%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Shapleigh and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#74 of 133 in ME	#76 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 57/MSAD 57	RSU 57/MSAD 57
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.