Compare towns
Bowdoinham vs Mapleton vs Strong vs Orrington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bowdoinham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Orrington has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Bowdoinham | Mapleton | Strong | Orrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,142 |
1,884 |
1,249Lowest |
3,853Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±13.1Highest 16% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
49.5±3.3 10% above ME |
| Bowdoinham and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±6.8 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±6.7 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
23.8%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Orrington and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,479±$21kHighest 45% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
$94,556±$10k 27% above ME |
| Bowdoinham and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $405,500±$105kHighest 37% above ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
$309,000±$49k 4% above ME |
| Bowdoinham and Orrington 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 |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
$1,167±$135Highest about the ME average |
| Orrington and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,958Highest about the ME average |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
$2,823 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±19.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
11.9%±20.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 13.5% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
88.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 10% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 22%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Bowdoinham and Strong 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 | #73 of 133 in ME | — | — | #41 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | Orrington Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.