Compare towns
Alfred vs Epping vs Bowdoin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alfred has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Epping | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,125Lowest |
7,430Highest |
3,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±5.3 15% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.3±10Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Epping and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bowdoin and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alfred and Epping 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping 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 about the U.S. average |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$91,239±$13k 13% above U.S. |
| Epping 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 about the U.S. average |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$292,800±$71kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,035±$432Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
— |
| Epping and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,543 14% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,375Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 82.2%±29.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alfred and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.6%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #28 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Epping School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.