What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bowdoinham has the most affordable homes ($406k median).

Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bowdoinham	Newfields
People
Population	3,142Highest	2,023Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.9±13.1Highest 33% above U.S.	44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S.
	Bowdoinham and Newfields 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%	18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Newfields and Bowdoinham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Newfields and Bowdoinham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,479±$21kLowest 34% above U.S.	$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$405,500±$105kLowest 22% above U.S.	$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,875±$323 33% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,958Lowest 5% below U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bowdoinham and Newfields 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%	2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	22%±11.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Newfields 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	—
School district	RSU 75/MSAD 75	Newfields School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.