Compare towns

Bowdoin vs Mapleton vs Solon vs Hollis

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Solon has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).

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.

MeasureBowdoinMapletonSolonHollis
People
Population
3,188
1,884
963Lowest
4,872Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.5%
ME: +2.6%
-3.2%
ME: +2.6%
-7.1%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+10.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
44.3±10
about the ME average
41.8±6Lowest
7% below ME
45.9±5.4Highest
about the ME average
43.8±4.2
about the ME average
Solon 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
ME: 18.1%
22.2%±5.1Highest
ME: 18.1%
17.2%±4.6
ME: 18.1%
16.4%±4.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
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
ME: 22.4%
18.3%±3.1
ME: 22.4%
23.9%±3.6Highest
ME: 22.4%
16.8%±3.5
ME: 22.4%
Solon 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%
ME: 36.2%
34.3%Highest
ME: 36.2%
25%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
30.7%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±2.2
ME: 5.8%
5%±2.9
ME: 5.8%
1.3%±1.5Lowest
ME: 5.8%
5.3%±1.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
Hollis 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
22% above ME
$91,731±$25k
23% above ME
$69,205±$20kLowest
7% below ME
$95,950±$24kHighest
28% above ME
Hollis and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$292,800±$71k
about the ME average
$191,800±$23k
35% below ME
$183,600±$12kLowest
38% below ME
$338,900±$27kHighest
14% above ME
Hollis and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$610±$277Lowest
46% below ME
$915±$100
20% below ME
$1,372±$293Highest
20% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,375Highest
11% above ME
$1,789Lowest
41% below ME
$1,854
39% below ME
$2,625
14% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±42.3Lowest
ME: 48.4%
16.7%±10.5
ME: 48.4%
14.6%±48.8
ME: 48.4%
48.9%±30.2Highest
ME: 48.4%
Hollis and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11%Highest
ME: 10.7%
8.9%
ME: 10.7%
10.7%
ME: 10.7%
5.7%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.7%
ME: 74.3%
79.9%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
88.6%Highest
ME: 74.3%
87.6%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1992Highest
15 yrs newer than ME
1977Lowest
same as ME
1978
1 yr newer than ME
1977Lowest
same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
29% above ME
28 minLowest
13% above ME
52 minHighest
113% above ME
29 min
18% above ME
Work from home
11.7%±7
ME: 15.9%
10.8%±3.8
ME: 15.9%
9.1%±4.7Lowest
ME: 15.9%
15.9%±4.7Highest
ME: 15.9%
Hollis 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 — — #88 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 75/MSAD 75 RSU 79/MSAD 01 RSU 74/MSAD 74 RSU 06/MSAD 06
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

ME 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.