Compare towns
Brooklin vs Bowdoin vs Mapleton vs Beals
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooklin has the most expensive homes ($339k median).
Bowdoin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Beals 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 | Brooklin | Bowdoin | Mapleton | Beals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 869 |
3,188Highest |
1,884 |
498Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.4% ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±3.7Highest 10% above ME |
44.3±10 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
48±15.6 7% above ME |
| Brooklin and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.1%±6.5Lowest 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+ | 24.7%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
30.1%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Beals and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
37.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±5.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Brooklin and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,750±$8k 8% below ME |
$91,239±$13k 22% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$64,063±$14kLowest 14% below 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 | $339,400±$90kHighest 14% above ME |
$292,800±$71k about the ME average |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$256,700±$45k 13% below ME |
| Brooklin and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,236±$137Highest 9% above ME |
— | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$907±$378 20% below ME |
| Brooklin and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,792 41% below ME |
$3,375Highest 11% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,580 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.5%±25Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
7.4%±71.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Brooklin and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
10.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.4% ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 17% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.5%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±10.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Beals and Brooklin 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 | — | — |
| School district | Brooklin Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Beals Public Schools |
| 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.