Compare towns
Bowdoin vs Appleton vs Limerick vs Alfred
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bowdoin has the most kids (19.1% under 18).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Limerick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Alfred has the most expensive homes ($342k 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 | Bowdoin | Appleton | Limerick | Alfred |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,188 |
1,360Lowest |
3,400Highest |
3,125 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±10 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
40.4±9.2Lowest 10% below ME |
44.9±5.3 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±6.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±6.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Bowdoin and Limerick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
25.4%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.5% ME: 36.2% |
25.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,239±$13k 22% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$101,172±$15kHighest 35% above ME |
$82,321±$18k 10% above ME |
| Limerick and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $292,800±$71k about the ME average |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$269,400±$29k 9% below ME |
$342,300±$38kHighest 15% above ME |
| Alfred and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,758±$407Highest 54% above ME |
$1,035±$432Lowest 9% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,375 11% above ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,520Lowest 17% below ME |
$3,543 17% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
82.2%±29.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
6.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
89.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 29% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
38 minHighest 53% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.7%±7 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.2%±6.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Limerick 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 | #28 of 133 in ME | — | — | #74 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.