Compare towns
Bowdoin vs Jefferson vs Mapleton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
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.
| Measure | Bowdoin | Jefferson | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,188Highest |
1,013Lowest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±10 14% above U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $91,239±$13k 13% above U.S. |
$67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| 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±$71k 12% below U.S. |
$296,700±$92kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Jefferson and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $867±$156Highest 39% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Jefferson and Mapleton 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. |
$4,196Highest 35% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson 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 75/MSAD 75 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.