Compare towns
Pittston vs Alfred vs Jefferson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pittston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Alfred has the most expensive homes ($342k median).
Jefferson has the most kids (28% 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 | Pittston | Alfred | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,093 |
3,125Highest |
2,647Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.4±5.9 8% below ME |
44.9±5.3Highest about the ME average |
38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
| Alfred and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±7.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±6.3 ME: 18.1% |
28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±6.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.4%±5.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Alfred and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.7% ME: 36.2% |
25.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
27.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±4.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Pittston and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,614±$18kHighest 16% above ME |
$82,321±$18kLowest 10% above ME |
$85,078±$17k 14% above ME |
| Pittston and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,700±$66kLowest 20% below ME |
$342,300±$38kHighest 15% above ME |
$311,600±$35k 5% above ME |
| Alfred and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$593 5% below ME |
$1,035±$432Lowest 9% below ME |
$1,120±$130Highest about the ME average |
| Jefferson and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,909Lowest 37% below ME |
$3,543Highest 17% above ME |
$2,587 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±34.6 ME: 48.4% |
82.2%±29.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Alfred and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.1% ME: 74.3% |
83.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 7% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 3.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
7.6%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Jefferson and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #123 of 133 in ME | #74 of 133 in ME | #45 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 11/MSAD 11 | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Jefferson Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.