Compare towns
Bowdoin vs Lyman 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 affordable homes ($293k median).
Lyman has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
Alfred has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Lyman | Alfred |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,188 |
4,612Highest |
3,125Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% ME: +2.6% |
+4.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±10Lowest about the ME average |
53.8±2Highest 20% above ME |
44.9±5.3 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±6.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±6.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Bowdoin and Alfred 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%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.4%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Lyman 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Lyman 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±$13kHighest 22% above ME |
$87,284±$14k 17% above ME |
$82,321±$18kLowest 10% above ME |
| Bowdoin and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $292,800±$71kLowest about the ME average |
$360,400±$44kHighest 22% above ME |
$342,300±$38k 15% above ME |
| Lyman and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,063±$522Highest 7% below ME |
$1,035±$432Lowest 9% below ME |
| Lyman and Alfred 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 |
$2,717Lowest 11% below ME |
$3,543Highest 17% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.7%±44.7 ME: 48.4% |
82.2%±29.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Alfred and Lyman 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%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% ME: 74.3% |
95%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 29% above ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.7%±7 ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Lyman 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 | #40 of 133 in ME | #74 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.