Compare towns
Bowdoin vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Lisbon Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bowdoin has the most expensive homes ($293k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Lisbon Falls has the most renters (29.9% rent).
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 | Bowdoin | Appleton | Mapleton | Lisbon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,188 |
1,360Lowest |
1,884 |
4,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±10 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
41.1±4.4Lowest 8% below ME |
| Appleton and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±6.2 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±3.6 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+ | 14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Lisbon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,239±$13k 22% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$72,344±$9k 3% below 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 | $292,800±$71kHighest about the ME average |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$245,700±$25k 17% below ME |
| Bowdoin and Lisbon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$971±$450 15% below ME |
| Appleton and Lisbon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,375 11% above ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,947 about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
27.9%±18 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Lisbon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
70.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 29% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.7%±7Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Bowdoin and Appleton 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 75/MSAD 75 | Appleton Public Schools | 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 | 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.