What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alna has the most kids (32.9% under 18).

Castine has the most expensive homes ($604k median).

Castine is a college town. 47.7% 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.

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

Measure	Alna	Castine
People
Population	818Lowest	1,362Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.1%Highest ME: +2.6%	-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40.7±10.5Highest 9% below ME	21.2±0.7Lowest 53% below ME
Kids under 18	32.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1%	9.5%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	17.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4%	19.9%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4%
	Castine and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%	74.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	47.7%±7.7Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,125±$16kLowest 25% above ME	$113,750±$26kHighest 52% above ME
	Castine and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$367,400±$55kLowest 24% above ME	$603,500±$114kHighest 103% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,088±$176Lowest 4% below ME	$1,105±$104Highest about the ME average
	Castine and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,667Lowest 21% above ME	$4,250Highest 40% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±70.4Lowest ME: 48.4%	60.3%±56Highest ME: 48.4%
	Castine 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%	14.1%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	80.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 1 yr newer than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 41% above ME	14 minLowest 42% below ME
Work from home	16.4%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9%	11.7%±10.6Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Alna and Castine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Castine Public Schools
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.