Compare towns
Bowdoin vs Gorham vs Mapleton vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bowdoin has the most expensive homes ($293k median).
Gorham has the oldest population (median age 53.9).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Bowdoin | Gorham | Mapleton | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,188Highest |
2,682 |
1,884Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±10 14% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Gorham 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 U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Mapleton 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 13% above U.S. |
$61,275±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
| 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 12% below U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Bowdoin and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $838±$83 41% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Union and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,375 8% above U.S. |
$4,334Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gorham and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union 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 | #57 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.