Compare towns
Mapleton vs Bowdoin vs Solon vs Washburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Bowdoin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
Solon has the most homeowners (88.6%).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k median).
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 | Mapleton | Bowdoin | Solon | Washburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
3,188Highest |
963Lowest |
1,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1% ME: +2.6% |
-9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
44.3±10 about the ME average |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
48.2±7.7Highest 8% above ME |
| Washburn and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
24%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Washburn and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.4% ME: 36.2% |
25%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$91,239±$13k 22% above ME |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
$56,196±$6kLowest 25% 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 | $191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$292,800±$71kHighest about the ME average |
$183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
$112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277 46% below ME |
— | $915±$100Highest 20% below ME |
$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME |
| Solon and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789 41% below ME |
$3,375Highest 11% above ME |
$1,854 39% below ME |
$1,571Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±24.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Washburn and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11% ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
12.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±3.9 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 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | RSU 45/MSAD 45 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Washburn District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.0 |
| 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.