Compare towns
Bowdoin vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bowdoin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
Manchester has the shortest commute (20 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 | Manchester |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 3,188Highest |
2,424Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±10Lowest about the ME average |
46.9±4.6Highest 5% above ME |
| Manchester and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±6.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
19%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Bowdoin and Manchester 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% |
22.6%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Manchester and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Manchester 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±$13kLowest 22% above ME |
$92,031±$16kHighest 23% above ME |
| Manchester 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±$71kLowest about the ME average |
$299,600±$40kHighest about the ME average |
| Manchester and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $993±$116 13% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,375Lowest 11% above ME |
$3,486Highest 15% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±18.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Manchester and Bowdoin 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% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 29% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.7%±7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Manchester 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 | — |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.