Compare towns

Albion vs Bowdoin vs Mapleton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Albion has the most people working from home (15.7%).
Bowdoin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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.

MeasureAlbionBowdoinMapleton
People
Population
2,204
3,188Highest
1,884Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.7%
ME: +2.6%
+2.5%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-3.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
52.9±7.5Highest
18% above ME
44.3±10
about the ME average
41.8±6Lowest
7% below ME
Albion and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.5%±4.1Lowest
ME: 18.1%
19.1%±6.2
ME: 18.1%
22.2%±5.1Highest
ME: 18.1%
Mapleton and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.8%±4.5Highest
ME: 22.4%
14.1%±4.7Lowest
ME: 22.4%
18.3%±3.1
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.4%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
30.4%
ME: 36.2%
34.3%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±2.1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
2.5%±2.2
ME: 5.8%
5%±2.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
Mapleton and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$62,361±$23kLowest
17% below ME
$91,239±$13k
22% above ME
$91,731±$25kHighest
23% above ME
Mapleton and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$230,900±$31k
22% below ME
$292,800±$71kHighest
about the ME average
$191,800±$23kLowest
35% below ME
Bowdoin and Albion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly — —
$610±$277
46% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,987
35% below ME
$3,375Highest
11% above ME
$1,789Lowest
41% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.2%±23.3Highest
ME: 48.4%
0%±42.3Lowest
ME: 48.4%
16.7%±10.5
ME: 48.4%
Albion and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
18.4%Highest
ME: 10.7%
11%
ME: 10.7%
8.9%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
84.7%Highest
ME: 74.3%
79.9%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
9 yrs newer than ME
1992Highest
15 yrs newer than ME
1977Lowest
same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
36% above ME
32 min
29% above ME
28 minLowest
13% above ME
Work from home
15.7%±5.5Highest
ME: 15.9%
11.7%±7
ME: 15.9%
10.8%±3.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Albion and Bowdoin 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 — #28 of 133 in ME —
School district RSU 49/MSAD 49 RSU 75/MSAD 75 RSU 79/MSAD 01
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.