Compare towns
Bowdoin vs Castleton vs Alfred vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bowdoin has the highest household income ($91k).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Alfred has the most expensive homes ($342k median).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Bowdoin | Castleton | Alfred | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,188 |
4,453Highest |
3,125 |
2,663Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±10 14% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.9±5.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
| Alfred and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alfred and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,239±$13kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$82,321±$18k about the U.S. average |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Bowdoin and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $292,800±$71k 12% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$342,300±$38kHighest about the U.S. average |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Alfred and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,035±$432Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Union and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,375 8% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,543Highest 14% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
82.2%±29.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alfred and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #74 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.