Compare towns
Andover vs Exeter vs Jackman 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%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Jackman has the most renters (10.5% rent).
Alexander has the most kids (18.1% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Jackman | Alexander |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 679 |
1,093Highest |
695 |
553Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-9.3% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 51.8±3.9Lowest 16% above ME |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
54.2±5.7Highest 21% above ME |
52.8±4.2 18% above ME |
| Jackman and Alexander 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% |
9%±3.1 ME: 18.1% |
11.5%±6.4 ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Alexander and Jackman 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% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
22.7%±6.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Andover and Exeter 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% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
28.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±3 ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Alexander and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $49,922±$9k 33% below ME |
$84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
$33,625±$19kLowest 55% below ME |
$93,750±$10kHighest 25% above ME |
| Alexander and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $168,300±$22k 43% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$172,700±$61k 42% below ME |
$193,800±$54kHighest 35% below ME |
| Alexander and Jackman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
$475±$143Lowest 58% below ME |
— |
| Exeter and Jackman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,513 50% below ME |
$1,602 47% below ME |
$1,492Lowest 51% below ME |
$1,781Highest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
57.1%±24.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Andover and Jackman 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% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
11.9% ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
89.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 1 yr older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
27 min 11% above ME |
18 minLowest 26% below ME |
| Work from home | 23.2%±15.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
7.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Andover and Jackman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Andover Public Schools | — | — | Alexander Public Schools |
| 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.