Compare towns
Bowdoin vs Mapleton vs Putney 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).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Mapleton | Putney | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,188Highest |
1,884Lowest |
2,622 |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% 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. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
| Bowdoin and Mapleton 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% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 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% |
48.6%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% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,239±$13k 13% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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±$71k 12% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Putney and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277 57% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Union 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% 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% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 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. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney and Union 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.