Compare towns
Alna vs Mercer vs Edgecomb
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 kids (32.9% under 18).
Mercer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Edgecomb has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Mercer | Edgecomb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 818 |
718Lowest |
1,251Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±10.5Lowest 9% below ME |
43.4±4.5Highest 3% below ME |
41±8.8 8% below ME |
| Mercer and Edgecomb 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% |
20.1%±6.4 ME: 18.1% |
16.9%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.9%±5.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±7.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Mercer and Edgecomb 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
39.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
8%±6.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Edgecomb and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,125±$16k 25% above ME |
$71,107±$2kLowest 5% below ME |
$108,750±$18kHighest 46% above ME |
| Edgecomb 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±$55kHighest 24% above ME |
$238,500±$32kLowest 20% below ME |
$348,400±$36k 17% above ME |
| Alna and Edgecomb 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 |
$1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME |
— |
| Mercer 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 |
$1,970Lowest 35% below ME |
$3,577 18% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±70.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
18.5%±74Lowest ME: 48.4% |
21.1%±43.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Alna and Edgecomb 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% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
22 minLowest 10% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
20.5%±8.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Mercer and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Edgecomb Public Schools |
| High school 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.