Compare towns
Arundel vs Belfast vs Bowdoin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arundel has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Belfast has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
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 | Arundel | Belfast | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,418 |
6,986Highest |
3,188Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4% ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±6.4Lowest 9% below ME |
60.6±3.1Highest 35% above ME |
44.3±10 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Arundel and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±3.4 ME: 22.4% |
39.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
42.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Arundel and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,597±$17kHighest 36% above ME |
$67,679±$9kLowest 9% below ME |
$91,239±$13k 22% above ME |
| Arundel and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $421,300±$62kHighest 42% above ME |
$340,900±$34k 15% above ME |
$292,800±$71kLowest about the ME average |
| Arundel and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$495Highest 41% above ME |
$962±$92Lowest 16% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,763 24% above ME |
$4,145Highest 37% above ME |
$3,375Lowest 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.2%±22.7 ME: 48.4% |
47.4%±14.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Belfast and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% ME: 74.3% |
68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 7% below ME |
22 minLowest 13% below ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 7%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12%±6Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7 ME: 15.9% |
| Belfast 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 | #7 of 133 in ME | #84 of 133 in ME | #28 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | RSU 71 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Belfast Area High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— |
| 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.