Compare towns
Bowdoinham vs Epping vs Readfield vs Belgrade
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 oldest population (median age 51.9).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Readfield has the most people working from home (24.3%).
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.
| Measure | Bowdoinham | Epping | Readfield | Belgrade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,142 |
7,430Highest |
2,651Lowest |
3,351 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±13.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
48.1±7.6 24% above U.S. |
47.3±14.6 22% above U.S. |
| Bowdoinham and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Belgrade and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Belgrade and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belgrade and Epping 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. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$88,338±$13k 9% above U.S. |
| Bowdoinham and Epping 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. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$326,400±$20k about the U.S. average |
$312,200±$44kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Epping and Bowdoinham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
$857±$108Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Epping and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,958 5% below U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,392 9% above U.S. |
$2,859Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.2%±35.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bowdoinham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22%±11.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Readfield and Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #20 of 133 in ME | #71 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Epping School District | RSU 38 | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
11.5Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.