Compare towns
Exeter 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
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
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 | Exeter | Bowdoin | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,093Lowest |
3,188Highest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
44.3±10 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Exeter and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9%±3.1Lowest 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+ | 23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,408±$12kLowest 13% above 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 | $166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$292,800±$71kHighest about the ME average |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
— | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Exeter and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$3,375Highest 11% above ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Exeter and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 43% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7Lowest 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.