Compare towns
Burnham vs Avon vs Alton
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).
Avon has the most affordable homes ($142k median).
Alton has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Burnham | Avon | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 953Highest |
359Lowest |
819 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -6.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.4±3.2 8% above ME |
47.1±5.1Lowest 5% above ME |
49.1±5.9Highest 10% above ME |
| Alton and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±6.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Avon and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.1%±4.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±2.4 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+ | 20.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
16.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±4.1 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Burnham and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,261±$18kLowest 21% below ME |
$63,125±$32kHighest 16% below ME |
$62,955±$9k 16% below ME |
| Avon and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $178,100±$43k 40% below ME |
$141,700±$42kLowest 52% below ME |
$179,500±$25kHighest 39% below ME |
| Alton and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,308±$386Highest 15% above ME |
$465±$30Lowest 59% below ME |
$866±$48 24% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,897Highest 38% below ME |
$1,469Lowest 52% below ME |
$1,476 51% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.9%±49Lowest ME: 48.4% |
90%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
76.3%±88.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Avon and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
24.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 13% below ME |
42 minHighest 71% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 17%±10.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±8.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±7.3 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 |
| High school 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.