Compare towns
Andover vs Mapleton vs Athens 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%).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($153k median).
Alexander has the shortest commute (18 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 | Andover | Mapleton | Athens | Alexander |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 679 |
1,884Highest |
791 |
553Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.6% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 51.8±3.9 16% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
47.7±7.2 6% 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5 ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±6.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Athens 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±2.7 ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±4.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Andover and Athens 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
24.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Alexander and Mapleton 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 |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$50,750±$14k 32% below ME |
$93,750±$10kHighest 25% above ME |
| Alexander and Mapleton 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 |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME |
$193,800±$54kHighest 35% below ME |
| Alexander and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Highest 46% below ME |
$538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
— |
| Mapleton and Athens 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 |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
$1,781 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 16.1% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.6% ME: 74.3% |
95.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 21% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
18 minLowest 26% below ME |
| Work from home | 23.2%±15.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
7.7%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Andover and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Andover Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Athens Public Schools | Alexander Public Schools |
| High school in town | None 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.