Compare towns
Bowdoin vs Washington vs Mapleton vs Alfred
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Washington | Mapleton | Alfred |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,188Highest |
1,624Lowest |
1,884 |
3,125 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±10 about the ME average |
48.2±6.7Highest 8% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
44.9±5.3 about the ME average |
| Washington and Alfred 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% |
14.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±6.3 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% |
21.3%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
25.4%±5.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Alfred and Washington 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% |
17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Washington 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 |
$59,861±$17kLowest 20% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$82,321±$18k 10% above ME |
| 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 about the ME average |
$195,200±$36k 34% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$342,300±$38kHighest 15% above ME |
| Alfred and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,036±$322Highest 9% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,035±$432 9% below ME |
| Washington and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,375 11% above ME |
$2,286 25% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,543Highest 17% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
82.2%±29.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Alfred and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% ME: 10.7% |
15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 29% above ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.7%±7 ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
7.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Washington 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 | — | — | #74 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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 Our Story | 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.