Compare towns
Bowdoinham vs Dedham vs Orrington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bowdoinham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Orrington has the shortest commute (21 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.
| Measure | Bowdoinham | Dedham | Orrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,142 |
1,656Lowest |
3,853Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±13.1Highest 16% above ME |
46.5±2.2Lowest 4% above ME |
49.5±3.3 10% above ME |
| Bowdoinham and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±6.8 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Bowdoinham 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% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.8%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Orrington 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Orrington and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,479±$21k 45% above ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$94,556±$10kLowest 27% above ME |
| Dedham and Bowdoinham 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 |
$356,400±$33k 20% above ME |
$309,000±$49kLowest 4% above ME |
| Bowdoinham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$1,167±$135Lowest about the ME average |
| Dedham and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,958 about the ME average |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$2,823Lowest 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±19.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3 ME: 48.4% |
11.9%±20.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Bowdoinham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 10% above ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 22%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Bowdoinham and Orrington 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 | — | #41 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Dedham Public Schools | Orrington Public Schools |
| High school in town | None 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.