Compare towns
Alna vs Jefferson vs Mapleton vs Dresden
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%).
Jefferson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Dresden has the oldest population (median age 55.1).
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 | Jefferson | Mapleton | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 818Lowest |
2,647Highest |
1,884 |
1,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% ME: +2.6% |
+5.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±10.5 9% below ME |
38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
55.1±7.9Highest 23% above 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% |
28%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
17%±3.4Lowest 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% |
18.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Dresden 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% |
27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
30.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Jefferson 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 |
$85,078±$17k 14% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$74,844±$22kLowest about the ME average |
| 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 |
$311,600±$35k 5% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$240,100±$29k 19% below 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±$176 4% below ME |
$1,120±$130 about the ME average |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,194±$502Highest 5% above ME |
| Dresden and Jefferson 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 |
$2,587 15% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,500 18% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±70.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Alna and Jefferson 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% |
3.4% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
33 min 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Alna and Mapleton 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 | — | Jefferson Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 02 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.