What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bowdoinham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).

Bristol has the shortest commute (18 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bowdoinham	Bristol
People
Population	3,142Highest	2,917Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6%	+2.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	51.9±13.1Lowest 16% above ME	61±3.2Highest 36% above ME
	Bristol and Bowdoinham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.5%±6.8Highest ME: 18.1%	13.9%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Bowdoinham and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.4%±6.7Lowest ME: 22.4%	42.8%±8.1Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	52.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.7%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	1.4%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Bristol and Bowdoinham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,479±$21kHighest 45% above ME	$100,750±$19kLowest 35% above ME
	Bowdoinham and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$405,500±$105kLowest 37% above ME	$406,400±$54kHighest 37% above ME
	Bristol and Bowdoinham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,051±$106 8% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,958Highest about the ME average	$2,668Lowest 12% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±19.4Highest ME: 48.4%	23.4%±19.2Lowest ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line	13.5%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.8%Highest ME: 74.3%	88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME	1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 10% above ME	18 minLowest 28% below ME
Work from home	22%±11.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	25%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9%
	Bristol and Bowdoinham 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	#73 of 133 in ME	#16 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 75/MSAD 75	Bristol Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.