Compare towns
West Gardiner vs Mapleton vs Bowdoin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Gardiner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Bowdoin has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
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 | West Gardiner | Mapleton | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,696Highest |
1,884Lowest |
3,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.8 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
44.3±10Highest about the ME average |
| Bowdoin and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2 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+ | 17.3%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Mapleton and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±5.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| West Gardiner and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,172±$30kHighest 29% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$91,239±$13kLowest 22% above ME |
| West Gardiner and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $305,100±$42kHighest about the ME average |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$292,800±$71k about the ME average |
| West Gardiner and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,087±$150Highest 5% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,282 25% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,375Highest 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±9.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 9% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the ME average |
28 min 13% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 13.8%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7 ME: 15.9% |
| West Gardiner 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 | #90 of 133 in ME | — | #28 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 11/MSAD 11 | 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 |
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.