Compare towns
Danforth vs Bowdoin vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Bowdoin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Danforth | Bowdoin | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666Lowest |
3,188Highest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
44.3±10 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Danforth and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest 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+ | 26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| 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 | $48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$91,239±$13k 22% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% 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 | $89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$292,800±$71kHighest about the ME average |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$29Highest 45% below ME |
— | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Danforth and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$3,375Highest 11% above ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±57.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Danforth and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 15% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| 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 | — |
| School district | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.