Compare towns
Bangor vs Dover vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bangor has the oldest population (median age 41).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($185k 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 | Bangor | Dover | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 31,938 |
33,364Highest |
17,077Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±1.3Highest 5% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
35.5±2.5Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bangor and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
18.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,942±$7k 26% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$53,580±$4kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,600±$10k 34% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$184,600±$21kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,055±$43 25% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$978±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,076 about the U.S. average |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$2,755Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.5%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bangor and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
18 min 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Waterville 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #105 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 | Dover School District | Waterville Public Schools |
| High school in town | Bangor High School | Dover Senior High School | Waterville Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3Highest |
12.7Lowest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.