Compare towns
Bowdoin vs Unity vs Topsham
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 youngest population (median age 44.3).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Unity | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,188 |
1,375Lowest |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±10Lowest 14% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham 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 13% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
| Bowdoin and Topsham 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. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$360,800±$20kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Topsham and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Unity and Topsham 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. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Unity 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% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsham 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 | — | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Unity School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2 |
| 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.