Compare towns

Bowdoinham vs Cornish vs Belgrade

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bowdoinham has the most expensive homes ($406k median).
Cornish has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Belgrade has the most kids (22.6% 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.

MeasureBowdoinhamCornishBelgrade
People
Population
3,142
1,803Lowest
3,351Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.5%
ME: +2.6%
+7.5%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+1.9%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
51.9±13.1Highest
16% above ME
39±8.5Lowest
13% below ME
47.3±14.6
6% above ME
Bowdoinham and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.5%±6.8Lowest
ME: 18.1%
18.2%±3.3
ME: 18.1%
22.6%±6.9Highest
ME: 18.1%
Belgrade and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.4%±6.7
ME: 22.4%
17.4%±4.9Lowest
ME: 22.4%
23.9%±6.4Highest
ME: 22.4%
Belgrade and Bowdoinham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
43.8%
ME: 36.2%
21%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
49.1%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.7%±1.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
2.8%±1.4
ME: 5.8%
5.7%±3.2Highest
ME: 5.8%
Belgrade and Cornish 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
$69,038±$4kLowest
8% below ME
$88,338±$13k
18% above ME
Bowdoinham and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$405,500±$105kHighest
37% above ME
$274,200±$84kLowest
8% below ME
$312,200±$44k
5% above ME
Bowdoinham and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,196±$148Highest
5% above ME
$857±$108Lowest
25% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,958Highest
about the ME average
$2,309Lowest
24% below ME
$2,859
6% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
100%±19.4Highest
ME: 48.4%
48.8%±17.5
ME: 48.4%
17.2%±35.9Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line
13.5%Highest
ME: 10.7%
6.3%
ME: 10.7%
3.1%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.8%Highest
ME: 74.3%
82.1%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
93.8%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
8 yrs newer than ME
1976Lowest
1 yr older than ME
1985Highest
8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
10% above ME
31 minHighest
27% above ME
23 minLowest
7% below ME
Work from home
22%±11.7Highest
ME: 15.9%
8.5%±2.4Lowest
ME: 15.9%
20.4%±8.6
ME: 15.9%
Bowdoinham and Belgrade 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 — #71 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 75/MSAD 75 — RSU 18
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 12 photos → 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.