Compare towns
Whitefield vs Jefferson 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 oldest population (median age 51.9).
Jefferson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Alna has the most people working from home (16.4%).
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 | Jefferson | Alna |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,157 |
2,647Highest |
818Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% ME: +2.6% |
+5.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±5.2Highest 16% above ME |
38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
40.7±10.5 9% below ME |
| Whitefield and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
28%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
32.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Alna and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.1%±4.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
17.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.7% ME: 36.2% |
27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2 ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Jefferson and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,875±$10kLowest about the ME average |
$85,078±$17k 14% above ME |
$93,125±$16kHighest 25% above ME |
| Alna and Jefferson 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 |
$311,600±$35k 5% above ME |
$367,400±$55kHighest 24% above ME |
| Alna and Jefferson 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 |
$1,120±$130Highest about the ME average |
$1,088±$176 4% below ME |
| Jefferson and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,366Lowest 22% below ME |
$2,587 15% below ME |
$3,667Highest 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±22.1 ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1Lowest 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%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4% ME: 10.7% |
2.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 13.5%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.4%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Alna and Whitefield 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 | — | #45 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 12 | Jefferson Public Schools | — |
| High school 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.