Compare towns
Alton vs Burnham vs Mapleton vs Bradford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burnham has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Mapleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).
Bradford has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Alton | Burnham | Mapleton | Bradford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 819Lowest |
953 |
1,884Highest |
1,254 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% ME: +2.6% |
-5.8% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.1±5.9 10% above ME |
48.4±3.2 8% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
49.7±8Highest 11% above ME |
| Bradford and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
16.8%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
22.2%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±1.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Burnham and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
20.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
19% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,955±$9k 16% below ME |
$59,261±$18kLowest 21% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$82,955±$26k 11% above ME |
| Mapleton and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $179,500±$25k 39% below ME |
$178,100±$43k 40% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$176,200±$15kLowest 41% below ME |
| Mapleton and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $866±$48 24% below ME |
$1,308±$386Highest 15% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$742±$392 35% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,476Lowest 51% below ME |
$1,897 38% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$2,315Highest 24% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±88.9 ME: 48.4% |
60.9%±49 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
87.5%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Bradford and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 24.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% ME: 74.3% |
87.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
86.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
22 minLowest 13% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
39 minHighest 57% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±7.3 ME: 15.9% |
17%±10.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
8.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Burnham and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 34 | — | 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 | 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.