Compare towns

Bowdoin vs Windsor 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%).
Windsor has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Alfred has the most expensive homes ($342k 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.

MeasureBowdoinWindsorAlfred
People
Population
3,188
3,554Highest
3,125Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.3±10Lowest
14% above U.S.
44.8±6.5
15% above U.S.
44.9±5.3Highest
15% above U.S.
Alfred and Windsor 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%
19.5%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Windsor 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%
29.7%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.4%±5.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Windsor and Alfred 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%
39.7%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%
0.7%±0.8Lowest
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±$13kHighest
13% above U.S.
$52,484±$11kLowest
35% below U.S.
$82,321±$18k
about the U.S. average
Bowdoin and Alfred 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.
$207,500±$31kLowest
38% below U.S.
$342,300±$38kHighest
about the U.S. average
Alfred and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,026±$89Lowest
27% below U.S.
$1,035±$432Highest
27% below U.S.
Alfred and Windsor 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.
$5,209Highest
67% above U.S.
$3,543
14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±42.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.5%±17
U.S.: 51.1%
82.2%±29.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
11%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
57.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1992Highest
12 yrs newer than U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
11.7%±7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.3%±5
U.S.: 15.1%
7.6%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bowdoin and Windsor 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 #61 of 70 in VT #74 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 75/MSAD 75 — RSU 57/MSAD 57
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 12 photos → 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.