Compare towns

Bowdoin vs Mapleton vs Newfields 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 oldest population (median age 44.3).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Newfields has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).

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.

MeasureBowdoinMapletonNewfieldsUnion
People
Population
3,188Highest
1,884Lowest
2,023
2,663
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.3±10Highest
14% above U.S.
41.8±6
7% above U.S.
44.1±1.8
13% above U.S.
41.6±5.3Lowest
7% above U.S.
Bowdoin and Newfields 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%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.6Lowest
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%±4.7
U.S.: 17.2%
18.3%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.4%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Union 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%
34.4%
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%
3.5%±1.5
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.
$80,724±$9kLowest
about the U.S. average
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.
$267,600±$42k
20% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$610±$277Lowest
57% below U.S.
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
$1,179±$452
17% below U.S.
Newfields and Union 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.
$3,276
5% 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%
24.6%±19.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Newfields 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%
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
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.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
29 min
11% above 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%
15.9%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #28 of 133 in ME — — —
School district RSU 75/MSAD 75 RSU 79/MSAD 01 Newfields School District RSU 40/MSAD 40
High school in town None 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

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.