Compare towns
Bangor vs Bowdoin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bangor has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Bowdoin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
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 | Bangor | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 31,938Highest |
3,188Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41±1.3Lowest 8% below ME |
44.3±10Highest about the ME average |
| Bowdoin and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Bowdoin and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±1.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bangor and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.4%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $59,942±$7kLowest 20% below ME |
$91,239±$13kHighest 22% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,600±$10kLowest 26% below ME |
$292,800±$71kHighest about the ME average |
| Bowdoin and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,055±$43 7% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,076Lowest about the ME average |
$3,375Highest 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±6.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 17.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 33% below ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Bowdoin and Bangor 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 | #37 of 133 in ME | #28 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Bangor High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | 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.