Compare towns
Alfred vs Berwick vs Bowdoin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alfred has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Bowdoin has the most affordable homes ($293k 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 | Alfred | Berwick | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,125Lowest |
8,175Highest |
3,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±5.3Highest about the ME average |
40.7±2.9Lowest 9% below ME |
44.3±10 about the ME average |
| Alfred and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±6.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.7%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Berwick and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±5.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Alfred and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
35%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Berwick and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,321±$18kLowest 10% above ME |
$94,771±$24kHighest 27% above ME |
$91,239±$13k 22% above ME |
| Berwick and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $342,300±$38k 15% above ME |
$369,100±$19kHighest 24% above ME |
$292,800±$71kLowest about the ME average |
| Berwick and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,035±$432Lowest 9% below ME |
$1,452±$430Highest 27% above ME |
— |
| Berwick and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,543 17% above ME |
$4,436Highest 46% above ME |
$3,375Lowest 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 82.2%±29.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.6%±46 ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Alfred and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.2%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7 ME: 15.9% |
| Berwick 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 | #74 of 133 in ME | #101 of 133 in ME | #28 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | 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.