Compare towns

Arundel vs Bowdoin vs Hollis

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Arundel has the most expensive homes ($421k median).
Bowdoin has the most affordable homes ($293k median).
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).

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.

MeasureArundelBowdoinHollis
People
Population
4,418
3,188Lowest
4,872Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
ME: +2.6%
+2.5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+10.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
40.9±6.4Lowest
9% below ME
44.3±10Highest
about the ME average
43.8±4.2
about the ME average
Bowdoin and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.4%±5.6Highest
ME: 18.1%
19.1%±6.2
ME: 18.1%
16.4%±4.2Lowest
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%
14.1%±4.7Lowest
ME: 22.4%
16.8%±3.5Highest
ME: 22.4%
Hollis and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
29.4%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
30.4%
ME: 36.2%
30.7%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±2.4
ME: 5.8%
2.5%±2.2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
5.3%±1.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
Hollis and Arundel 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
$91,239±$13kLowest
22% above ME
$95,950±$24k
28% above ME
Arundel and Hollis 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
$292,800±$71kLowest
about the ME average
$338,900±$27k
14% above ME
Arundel and Hollis 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
—
$1,372±$293Lowest
20% above ME
Arundel and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,763Highest
24% above ME
$3,375
11% above ME
$2,625Lowest
14% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
34.2%±22.7
ME: 48.4%
0%±42.3Lowest
ME: 48.4%
48.9%±30.2Highest
ME: 48.4%
Hollis and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%
ME: 10.7%
11%Highest
ME: 10.7%
5.7%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.2%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
84.7%
ME: 74.3%
87.6%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1992Highest
15 yrs newer than ME
1992Highest
15 yrs newer than ME
1977Lowest
same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
7% below ME
32 minHighest
29% above ME
29 min
18% above ME
Work from home
7%±3.2Lowest
ME: 15.9%
11.7%±7
ME: 15.9%
15.9%±4.7Highest
ME: 15.9%
Hollis 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 #28 of 133 in ME #88 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 21 RSU 75/MSAD 75 RSU 06/MSAD 06
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.