Compare towns
Alna vs Appleton vs Jefferson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alna has the most people working from home (16.4%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Jefferson has the youngest population (median age 38.1).
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 | Alna | Appleton | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 818Lowest |
1,360 |
2,647Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±10.5 9% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
| Appleton and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 32.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
28%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Alna and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Jefferson and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,125±$16kHighest 25% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$85,078±$17k 14% above ME |
| Alna and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $367,400±$55kHighest 24% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$311,600±$35k 5% above ME |
| Alna and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,088±$176Lowest 4% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,120±$130Highest about the ME average |
| Jefferson and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,667Highest 21% above ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$2,587Lowest 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±70.4 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Alna and Appleton 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 | — | — | #45 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | Jefferson Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.