Compare towns
Bowdoinham vs Dover 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
Bowdoinham has the most homeowners (93.8%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Topsham has the most kids (19.9% 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.
| Measure | Bowdoinham | Dover | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,142Lowest |
33,364Highest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±13.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Bowdoinham and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±6.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Topsham 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 34% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Bowdoinham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $405,500±$105k 22% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Dover and Bowdoinham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Dover and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,958Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 13.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bowdoinham and Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Dover School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
12.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.