Compare towns

Putney vs Mapleton vs Bowdoin

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Bowdoin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).

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.

MeasurePutneyMapletonBowdoin
People
Population
2,622
1,884Lowest
3,188Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
41.8±6
7% above U.S.
44.3±10Highest
14% above U.S.
Bowdoin and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.1%±6.2
U.S.: 22%
Mapleton and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.1%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
18.3%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.1%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Mapleton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
30.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
$91,731±$25kHighest
14% above U.S.
$91,239±$13k
13% above U.S.
Mapleton and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$300,000±$44kHighest
10% below U.S.
$191,800±$23kLowest
42% below U.S.
$292,800±$71k
12% below U.S.
Putney and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$610±$277Highest
57% below U.S.
—
Mapleton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313Highest
70% above U.S.
$1,789Lowest
43% below U.S.
$3,375
8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±10.5
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±42.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1992Highest
12 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.7%±7
U.S.: 15.1%
Putney and Bowdoin 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 #32 of 70 in VT — #28 of 133 in ME
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 RSU 79/MSAD 01 RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 6 photos → None yet None yet

U.S. 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.