Compare towns
Bowdoin vs Jay vs Hollis
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).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | Jay | Hollis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,188Lowest |
4,657 |
4,872Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±10Highest about the ME average |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
43.8±4.2 about the ME average |
| Bowdoin and Hollis 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% |
17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Bowdoin and Jay 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% |
19.3%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.8%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Jay and Hollis 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% |
29.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Hollis and Jay 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 |
$70,238±$19kLowest 6% below ME |
$95,950±$24kHighest 28% above ME |
| Hollis 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 |
$168,600±$27kLowest 43% below ME |
$338,900±$27kHighest 14% above ME |
| Hollis and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $759±$141Lowest 33% below ME |
$1,372±$293Highest 20% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,375Highest 11% above ME |
$2,245Lowest 26% below ME |
$2,625 14% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
48.9%±30.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Hollis and Jay 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% |
9.8% ME: 10.7% |
5.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% ME: 74.3% |
82.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 29% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.7%±7 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hollis 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 | #86 of 133 in ME | #88 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 73 | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | None in town | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.