Compare towns
Bowdoin vs Mapleton vs Newfields vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Mapleton | Newfields | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,188 |
1,884Lowest |
2,023 |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±10 14% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Topsham 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $292,800±$71k 12% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Topsham 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newfields and Topsham 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #28 of 133 in ME | — | — | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Newfields School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.2 |
| 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.