Compare towns
Sullivan vs Mapleton vs Bowdoin vs Solon
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%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Bowdoin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
Solon has the most affordable homes ($184k 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 | Sullivan | Mapleton | Bowdoin | Solon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,246 |
1,884 |
3,188Highest |
963Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.1±15Highest 5% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
44.3±10 about the ME average |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
| Sullivan and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6Lowest 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%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Solon and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.4% ME: 36.2% |
25%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$91,239±$13k 22% above ME |
$69,205±$20k 7% 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 | $222,000±$33k 25% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$292,800±$71kHighest about the ME average |
$183,600±$12kLowest 38% 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±$114 22% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
— | $915±$100Highest 20% below ME |
| Solon and Sullivan 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,375Highest 11% above ME |
$1,854 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±23.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8 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% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11% ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 7% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±7.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest 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 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| High school in town | Sumner Memorial High School | None in town | 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 | 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.