Compare towns
Bowdoin vs Sullivan
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%).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
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 | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 3,188Highest |
1,246Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±10Lowest about the ME average |
47.1±15Highest 5% above ME |
| Sullivan 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% |
18%±5.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Bowdoin and Sullivan 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% |
22.5%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Sullivan 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 |
$59,643±$14kLowest 20% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $292,800±$71kHighest about the ME average |
$222,000±$33kLowest 25% below ME |
| Bowdoin and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $883±$114 22% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,375Highest 11% above ME |
$2,228Lowest 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
34.9%±23.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Sullivan and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 11%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 29% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.7%±7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±7.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Sullivan 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 24 |
| High school in town | None in town | Sumner Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.5 |
| 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.