Compare towns
Whitefield vs Lee 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($175k median).
Alna has the most expensive homes ($367k median).
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 | Lee | Alna |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,157Highest |
925 |
818Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±5.2Highest 16% above ME |
51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
40.7±10.5Lowest 9% below ME |
| Whitefield and Lee 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% |
21.8%±4.9 ME: 18.1% |
32.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 29.1%±4.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
17.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Whitefield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.7% ME: 36.2% |
14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Lee 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±$10k about the ME average |
$49,886±$5kLowest 33% 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±$24k 18% below ME |
$174,500±$25kLowest 41% below ME |
$367,400±$55kHighest 24% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$126Lowest 21% below ME |
— | $1,088±$176Highest 4% below ME |
| Alna and Whitefield 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 |
$1,547Lowest 49% below ME |
$3,667Highest 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±22.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±70.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Lee and Alna 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% |
19.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
2.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.5% ME: 74.3% |
97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 13.5%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±4.7Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | RSU 12 | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | — |
| High school 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.