Compare towns
Bowdoin vs Nelson vs Alfred
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bowdoin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Alfred has the most renters (17.9% rent).
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 | Nelson | Alfred |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,188Highest |
648Lowest |
3,125 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±10 14% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
44.9±5.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Alfred and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alfred and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bowdoin and Alfred 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 13% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$82,321±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Nelson 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 12% below U.S. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$342,300±$38kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Alfred and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,035±$432Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,375Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,543 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
82.2%±29.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alfred and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #28 of 133 in ME | — | #74 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Nelson School District | 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 |
U.S. 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.