Compare towns
Whitefield vs Deer Isle vs Alna
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitefield has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Deer Isle has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Alna has the most kids (32.9% 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 | Whitefield | Deer Isle | Alna |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,157 |
2,470Highest |
818Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% ME: +2.6% |
+11.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±5.2 16% above ME |
52.6±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
40.7±10.5Lowest 9% below ME |
| Deer Isle and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
32.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 29.1%±4.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
17.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Whitefield and Deer Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
35.9% ME: 36.2% |
41.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Whitefield and Deer Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,875±$10k about the ME average |
$62,284±$15kLowest 17% below ME |
$93,125±$16kHighest 25% above ME |
| Alna and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$24kLowest 18% below ME |
$308,300±$42k 4% above ME |
$367,400±$55kHighest 24% above ME |
| Alna and Deer Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$126Lowest 21% below ME |
$1,909±$927Highest 68% above ME |
$1,088±$176 4% below ME |
| Deer Isle and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,366 22% below ME |
$1,890Lowest 38% below ME |
$3,667Highest 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±22.1 ME: 48.4% |
25.4%±17.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±70.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Alna and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
2.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
20 minLowest 17% below ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 13.5%±6.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22%±9.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.4%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Deer Isle and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 12 | Deer Isle-Stonington CSD | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Deer Isle-Stonington High Sch | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.0 |
— |
| 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.