Compare towns
Arundel vs Scarborough 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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Scarborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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 | Scarborough | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,418 |
23,215Highest |
3,188Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% ME: +2.6% |
+17%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±6.4Lowest 9% below ME |
48.8±2.7Highest 9% above ME |
44.3±10 about the ME average |
| Scarborough and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±2Lowest 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% |
24.7%±2.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
57.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±1.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Scarborough 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±$17k 36% above ME |
$133,558±$21kHighest 79% above ME |
$91,239±$13kLowest 22% above ME |
| Scarborough and Arundel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $421,300±$62k 42% above ME |
$551,900±$39kHighest 86% above ME |
$292,800±$71kLowest about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$495Lowest 41% above ME |
$1,956±$178Highest 72% above ME |
— |
| Scarborough and Arundel 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 |
$5,978Highest 97% above ME |
$3,375Lowest 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.2%±22.7 ME: 48.4% |
51.9%±13.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Scarborough 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% |
4.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% ME: 74.3% |
77.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 7% below ME |
19 minLowest 21% below ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 7%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
24.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #7 of 133 in ME | #35 of 133 in ME | #28 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | Scarborough Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Scarborough High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0 |
— |
| 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.