Compare towns
Burnham vs Harrington vs Mapleton 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 most people working from home (17%).
Harrington has the most affordable homes ($145k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Harrington | Mapleton | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 953 |
917 |
1,884Highest |
819Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% ME: +2.6% |
-4.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.4±3.2 8% above ME |
49.2±12.1Highest 10% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
49.1±5.9 10% above ME |
| Harrington and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
15.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
32%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Harrington and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.8% ME: 36.2% |
27.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.1 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 | $59,261±$18kLowest 21% below ME |
$64,861±$17k 13% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$62,955±$9k 16% below ME |
| Mapleton and Harrington 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 |
$144,600±$71kLowest 51% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$179,500±$25k 39% 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 | $1,308±$386Highest 15% above ME |
— | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$866±$48 24% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,897Highest 38% below ME |
$1,777 41% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,476Lowest 51% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.9%±49 ME: 48.4% |
79.3%±39Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
76.3%±88.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Harrington 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% |
13.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
24.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.1% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 13% below ME |
20 minLowest 21% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 17%±10.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 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 37/MSAD 37 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 34 |
| High school in town | — | Narraguagus High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— | — |
| 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.