Compare towns
Bowdoin vs Rye vs Union
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 the most renters (15.3% rent).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Union has the most kids (24.9% 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.
| Measure | Bowdoin | Rye | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,188 |
5,611Highest |
2,663Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±10 14% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Rye 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% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union 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±$13k 13% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rye 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±$71k 12% below U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,179±$452Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Rye and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,375 8% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rye and Union 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% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #28 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Rye School District | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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.