Compare towns
Bowdoin vs Mapleton vs Unity 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).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Unity | Alfred |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,188Highest |
1,884 |
1,375Lowest |
3,125 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±10 14% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
44.9±5.3 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Alfred 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Bowdoin 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±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$82,321±$18kLowest 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. |
$276,100±$29k 17% 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. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,035±$432 27% below U.S. |
| Unity 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. |
$5,394Highest 73% 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% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
82.2%±29.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alfred and Unity 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% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bowdoin and Mapleton 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 | — | — | #74 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Unity School District | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| 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.