Compare towns
Avon vs Mapleton vs Bridgewater vs Strong
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Avon has the most affordable homes ($142k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Bridgewater has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Avon | Mapleton | Bridgewater | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 359Lowest |
1,884Highest |
484 |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.1±5.1 5% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
48.8±8Highest 9% above ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
| Bridgewater and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6.8 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±4.6 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bridgewater and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
18.8% ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±4.1 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,125±$32k 16% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$65,417±$15k 12% below ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Mapleton and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $141,700±$42kLowest 52% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$154,900±$78k 48% below ME |
$183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
| Mapleton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $465±$30Lowest 59% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$768±$116 33% below ME |
$920±$276Highest 19% below ME |
| Strong and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,469 52% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,417Lowest 53% below ME |
$1,950Highest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38.9%±59.5 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Avon and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 71% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
22 minLowest 10% below ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.2%±8.1 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±5.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.