Compare towns
Crawford vs Mapleton vs Topsfield vs Alexander
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Crawford has the most people working from home (38.9%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Topsfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
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 | Crawford | Mapleton | Topsfield | Alexander |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 97Lowest |
1,884Highest |
214 |
553 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
— | — |
| Median age | 66.2±12.2Highest 48% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
63.5±4.9 42% above ME |
52.8±4.2 18% above ME |
| Crawford and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±21.3 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±10.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±6.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Alexander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 50.5%±19.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
44.9%±12.5 ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±4.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Crawford and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
14.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
24.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±16Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±5.3 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 | $31,875±$22kLowest 57% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$48,125±$16k 36% 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 | $121,400±$48kLowest 59% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$141,700±$32k 52% 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±$277 46% below ME |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,467 52% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$957Lowest 68% 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% |
— | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Crawford and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 27.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
13.1% ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.1% ME: 74.3% |
95.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 63% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
34 min 39% above ME |
18 minLowest 26% below ME |
| Work from home | 38.9%±37.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
7.7%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Crawford 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 | East Range 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.