Compare towns
Bowdoin vs Denmark vs Topsham
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 youngest population (median age 44.3).
Denmark has the oldest population (median age 54.4).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Denmark | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,188 |
1,054Lowest |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±10Lowest about the ME average |
54.4±5Highest 21% above ME |
44.7±4 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±6.2 ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Topsham 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 ME: 22.4% |
31.8%±7.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Denmark and Topsham 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% |
29.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
50%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Topsham and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,239±$13kHighest 22% above ME |
$64,167±$10kLowest 14% below ME |
$91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
| Bowdoin and Topsham 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 |
$250,000±$68kLowest 16% below ME |
$360,800±$20kHighest 22% above ME |
| Topsham and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,409±$207Highest 24% above ME |
$1,355±$642Lowest 19% above ME |
| Denmark and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,375 11% above ME |
$2,259Lowest 26% below ME |
$4,259Highest 40% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
90.6%±31Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% ME: 74.3% |
92.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 29% above ME |
34 minHighest 39% above ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.7%±7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.7%±6.4 ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Topsham and Denmark 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 | — | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.