Alfred, ME vs Thomaston, ME

Thomaston is moderately more affordable than Alfred, with a 7.8% lower cost of living index. Alfred scores 89 compared to 83 for Thomaston, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Alfred can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Alfred is $764/month compared to $861/month in Thomaston — a 11% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Alfred has cheaper rent, Thomaston actually has lower median home values ($258,700 vs $359,800).

Median household income in Alfred is $32,476 compared to $48,563 in Thomaston (-33.1%). Thomaston offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Alfred spend roughly 28.2% of their income on rent, more than the 21.3% in Thomaston.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (47.7°F vs 45.9°F). Thomaston receives more rainfall at 46.7" per year compared to 41.2" in Alfred.