Compare towns
Cooper vs Mapleton vs Aurora vs Alexander
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 youngest population (median age 41.8).
Aurora has the most kids (26.5% under 18).
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 | Cooper | Mapleton | Aurora | Alexander |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 157 |
1,884Highest |
132Lowest |
553 |
| 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 |
47.2±17 5% above ME |
52.8±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
| Alexander and Aurora 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% |
26.5%±16.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±6.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Aurora 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% |
27.3%±26.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±4.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Aurora 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% ME: 36.2% |
42.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±9.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±10.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Aurora 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 |
| Alexander and Mapleton 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 |
$189,400±$17kLowest 36% below ME |
$193,800±$54k 35% 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±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,125±$342Highest about the ME average |
— |
| Aurora and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,929 36% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$2,025Highest 33% below ME |
$1,781Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Aurora and Mapleton 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% |
15.2% ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
75.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 44 minHighest 78% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
34 min 36% above ME |
18 minLowest 26% below ME |
| Work from home | 13.5%±11Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
7.7%±4.4 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 | Airline CSD | Alexander Public Schools |
| High school 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.