Compare towns
Sumner vs Mapleton vs Bowdoin vs Garland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Bowdoin has the most expensive homes ($293k median).
Garland has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Sumner | Mapleton | Bowdoin | Garland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 845 |
1,884 |
3,188Highest |
823Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+2.5% ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
44.3±10 about the ME average |
53.5±4.3 19% above ME |
| Sumner and Garland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2 ME: 18.1% |
18%±4.3 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+ | 29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.2%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Garland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.4% ME: 36.2% |
16.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$91,239±$13k 22% above ME |
$51,094±$12kLowest 32% 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 | $150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$292,800±$71kHighest about the ME average |
$205,400±$38k 31% below ME |
| Bowdoin and Garland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
— | $794±$248Highest 30% below ME |
| Garland and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,167 29% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$3,375Highest 11% above ME |
$1,536Lowest 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
46.7%±46.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Garland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
11% ME: 10.7% |
19.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 72% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner 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 10 | 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 |
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.