Compare towns
Reading vs Mapleton vs Bowdoin vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Reading | Mapleton | Bowdoin | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
1,884 |
3,188Highest |
616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.3±10 14% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
| Reading and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest 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+ | 28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$91,239±$13k 13% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Andover and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$292,800±$71k 12% below U.S. |
$382,900±$68kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
— | $1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,375 8% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 | None yet | None yet | 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.