Compare towns
Bowdoin vs Mapleton vs Randolph vs Alfred
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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Randolph has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Alfred has the most expensive homes ($342k 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 | Mapleton | Randolph | Alfred |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,188 |
1,884Lowest |
4,843Highest |
3,125 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±10 14% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4Lowest 4% above U.S. |
44.9±5.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Alfred 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% |
17.3%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±6.3 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alfred and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,239±$13k 13% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$82,321±$18k 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. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
$342,300±$38kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Alfred and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,035±$432 27% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Alfred 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. |
$4,698Highest 51% above U.S. |
$3,543 14% 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% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
82.2%±29.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alfred and Randolph 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% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Randolph 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 | — | #55 of 70 in VT | #74 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.4 |
— |
| 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.