Compare towns

Bowdoin vs Palmyra

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%).
Palmyra has the most kids (29.2% under 18).

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.

MeasureBowdoinPalmyra
People
Population
3,188Highest
2,209Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.5%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-3.1%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
44.3±10Highest
about the ME average
37.1±4.8Lowest
17% below ME
Bowdoin and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.1%±6.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
29.2%±5.8Highest
ME: 18.1%
Palmyra 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
ME: 22.4%
16.7%±5.3Highest
ME: 22.4%
Palmyra 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%Highest
ME: 36.2%
13.8%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±2.2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4%±2.4Highest
ME: 5.8%
Palmyra 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
$60,543±$17kLowest
19% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$292,800±$71kHighest
about the ME average
$154,900±$34kLowest
48% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$733±$119
36% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,375Highest
11% above ME
$1,614Lowest
47% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±42.3Lowest
ME: 48.4%
47.2%±14.9Highest
ME: 48.4%
Palmyra 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%
9.1%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.7%Highest
ME: 74.3%
82.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1992Lowest
15 yrs newer than ME
1994Highest
17 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
29% above ME
21 minLowest
14% below ME
Work from home
11.7%±7Highest
ME: 15.9%
7.5%±4.1Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Bowdoin and Palmyra 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 —
High school in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.