Compare towns
Princeton vs Somerville vs Alexander
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
Bordering PrincetonBaileyville
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Princeton has the most affordable homes ($121k median).
Somerville has the youngest population (median age 33.5).
Alexander has the oldest population (median age 52.8).
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 | Princeton | Somerville | Alexander |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 866Highest |
837 |
553Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 39.1±9.4 13% below ME |
33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME |
52.8±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 28.2%±6 ME: 18.1% |
28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Somerville and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
13.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±4.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Princeton and Alexander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.5% ME: 36.2% |
25.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Alexander and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,406±$26kLowest 25% below ME |
$71,250±$15k 5% below ME |
$93,750±$10kHighest 25% above ME |
| Alexander and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $120,800±$82kLowest 59% below ME |
$218,100±$41kHighest 26% below ME |
$193,800±$54k 35% below ME |
| Somerville and Alexander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $675±$351Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,573Lowest 48% below ME |
$2,505Highest 17% below ME |
$1,781 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±23.1 ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Somerville and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.3% ME: 10.7% |
17%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.8% ME: 74.3% |
95.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 13% below ME |
27 minHighest 9% above ME |
18 minLowest 26% below ME |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
7.7%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Princeton and Alexander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Princeton Public Schools | RSU 12 | 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 |
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.