Compare towns
Sullivan 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
Sullivan has the most people working from home (12.6%).
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 | Sullivan | Bowdoin | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,246Lowest |
3,188Highest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.1±15Highest 5% above ME |
44.3±10 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Sullivan and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±5.2Lowest 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+ | 22.5%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Sullivan and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Sullivan and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,643±$14kLowest 20% 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 | $222,000±$33k 25% below ME |
$292,800±$71kHighest about the ME average |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Bowdoin and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $883±$114Highest 22% below ME |
— | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Sullivan and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,228 27% below ME |
$3,375Highest 11% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±23.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Sullivan and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 7% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±7.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sullivan 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 | — | #28 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 24 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | Sumner Memorial High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5 |
— | — |
| 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.