Compare towns
Arundel vs Dover 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
Arundel has the highest household income ($102k).
Dover has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Dover | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,418 |
33,364Highest |
3,188Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±6.4 5% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.3±10Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Bowdoin and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dover 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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 26% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$91,239±$13kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Arundel and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $421,300±$62k 27% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$292,800±$71kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Dover and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$495 14% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,763 21% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$3,375Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.2%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #28 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | Dover School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.