Compare towns
Andover vs Appleton vs Alexander
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most people working from home (23.2%).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Alexander has the highest household income ($94k).
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 | Andover | Appleton | Alexander |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 679 |
1,360Highest |
553Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 51.8±3.9 16% above ME |
49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
52.8±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
| Alexander and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.8%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Alexander and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±6.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Andover and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Alexander and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $49,922±$9kLowest 33% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$93,750±$10kHighest 25% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $168,300±$22kLowest 43% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$193,800±$54k 35% below ME |
| Appleton and Alexander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,513Lowest 50% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,781 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Andover and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
18 minLowest 26% below ME |
| Work from home | 23.2%±15.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
7.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Andover and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Andover Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | Alexander Public Schools |
| 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 |
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.