Compare towns
Bradford vs Charleston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bradford has the most affordable homes ($176k median).
Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
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 | Bradford | Charleston |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 1,254Highest |
1,117Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.7±8Highest 11% above ME |
45.4±5.9Lowest about the ME average |
| Bradford and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±5.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Charleston and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±1.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19%Highest ME: 36.2% |
12.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Bradford and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $82,955±$26kHighest 11% above ME |
$75,250±$20kLowest about the ME average |
| Bradford and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,200±$15kLowest 41% below ME |
$226,500±$17kHighest 24% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $742±$392Lowest 35% below ME |
$988±$870Highest 13% below ME |
| Charleston and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,315Highest 24% below ME |
$1,811Lowest 40% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.5%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Bradford and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 57% above ME |
26 minLowest 5% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.6%±8.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Charleston and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | 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.