Compare towns
Cooper vs Mapleton vs Alexander vs Chapman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cooper has the most people working from home (13.5%).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Alexander has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% 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 | Cooper | Mapleton | Alexander | Chapman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 157Lowest |
1,884Highest |
553 |
388 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.5±9.1 4% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
52.8±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
| Alexander and Cooper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±17Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±6.6 ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±14 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±4.6 ME: 22.4% |
27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Chapman and Cooper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.2% ME: 36.2% |
22.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±9.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4.2 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman and Alexander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $48,750±$15kLowest 35% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$93,750±$10kHighest 25% above ME |
$93,125±$17k 25% above ME |
| Alexander and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $212,500±$66kHighest 28% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$193,800±$54k 35% below ME |
$185,700±$22kLowest 37% below ME |
| Cooper and Alexander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277 46% below ME |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,929Highest 36% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,781Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,850 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 16.7%±10.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Mapleton and Alexander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 20.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
6.6% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
94.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 44 minHighest 78% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
18 minLowest 26% below ME |
23 min 6% below ME |
| Work from home | 13.5%±11Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
7.7%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Cooper and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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.