Compare towns
Bowdoin vs Lyman vs Ogunquit vs West Gardiner
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 renters (15.3% rent).
Lyman has the most homeowners (95%).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
West Gardiner has the shortest commute (24 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 | Ogunquit | West Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,188 |
4,612Highest |
1,379Lowest |
3,696 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.2% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±10 about the ME average |
53.8±2 20% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
43.5±2.8Lowest about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±6.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Bowdoin and West Gardiner 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%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.3%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.4% ME: 36.2% |
25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
8.1%±5.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| West Gardiner and Ogunquit 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 |
$87,284±$14kLowest 17% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$96,172±$30k 29% above ME |
| Ogunquit and West Gardiner 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±$44k 22% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$305,100±$42k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,063±$522Lowest 7% below ME |
— | $1,087±$150Highest 5% below ME |
| West Gardiner and Lyman 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 |
$2,717 11% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,282Lowest 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.7%±44.7 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
57.1%±9.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| West Gardiner 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% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95%Highest ME: 74.3% |
94.3% ME: 74.3% |
88.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 29% above ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
24 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.8%±7.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #28 of 133 in ME | #40 of 133 in ME | — | #90 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | — | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| 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 | 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.