Compare towns
Arundel vs Hope 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 the most expensive homes ($421k median).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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 | Hope | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,418Highest |
1,748Lowest |
3,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±6.4Lowest 9% below ME |
44.6±3.1Highest about the ME average |
44.3±10 about the ME average |
| Hope and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Arundel 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% |
21.1%±1.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$86,766±$6kLowest 16% above 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 |
$373,400±$33k 26% above ME |
$292,800±$71kLowest about the ME average |
| Arundel and Hope 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 |
$1,219±$182Lowest 7% above ME |
— |
| Arundel and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,763 24% above ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$3,375Lowest 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.2%±22.7 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Hope 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% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1991Lowest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 7% below ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 7%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7 ME: 15.9% |
| Hope 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 |
| School district | RSU 21 | Hope Public Schools | 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.