Compare towns
Alna vs Dresden vs Mapleton
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 expensive homes ($367k median).
Dresden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Dresden | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 818Lowest |
1,645 |
1,884Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% ME: +2.6% |
+3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±10.5Lowest 9% below ME |
55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
| Dresden and Mapleton 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% |
17%±3.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Alna and Mapleton 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% |
24.8%±8Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Dresden and Mapleton 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% |
30.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Dresden 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 |
$74,844±$22kLowest about the ME average |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
| Alna and Mapleton 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 |
$240,100±$29k 19% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,088±$176 4% below ME |
$1,194±$502Highest 5% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Dresden and Alna 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 |
$2,500 18% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±70.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Alna and Mapleton 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% |
9.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
33 min 35% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Alna and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 02 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.