Compare towns

Bowdoin vs Mapleton vs Randolph 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

Bowdoin has the most homeowners (84.7%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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.

MeasureBowdoinMapletonRandolphTopsham
People
Population
3,188
1,884Lowest
4,843
9,706Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.8%Highest
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.
44.7±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%
17.3%±4.4Lowest
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%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.3%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
22.9%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Topsham 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
40.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
50%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
11.2%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.8
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.
$91,028±$10k
13% 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.
$191,800±$23kLowest
42% below U.S.
$278,700±$38k
16% below U.S.
$360,800±$20kHighest
8% above U.S.
Topsham 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±$173
17% below U.S.
$1,355±$642Highest
4% below U.S.
Topsham and Randolph 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.
$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%
54.1%±17.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Randolph 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%
7.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Lowest
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%
78.9%
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.
1980
same as 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.
24 min
11% below U.S.
Work from home
11.7%±7
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.9%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Topsham and Randolph 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 #66 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 75/MSAD 75 RSU 79/MSAD 01 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town None in town None in town Randolph Union High School Mt Ararat High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
9.4Lowest
12.2Highest
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.