Compare towns
Bowdoinham vs Gorham vs Readfield
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 oldest population (median age 51.9).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
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 | Gorham | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,142 |
18,300Highest |
2,651Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
0%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±13.1Highest 16% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
| 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 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Readfield 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% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.3%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Readfield 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% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,479±$21k 45% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$86,504±$8kLowest 16% above ME |
| Gorham 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±$105k 37% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$326,400±$20kLowest 10% above ME |
| Gorham and Bowdoinham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,125±$844Lowest about the ME average |
| Gorham and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,958Lowest about the ME average |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$3,392 12% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±19.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 13.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 10% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
30 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 22%±11.7 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Readfield 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #20 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Maranacook Community High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.