Compare towns
Bowdoinham vs Stow vs Readfield
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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Stow has the most expensive homes ($730k median).
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 | Stow | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,142 |
7,165Highest |
2,651Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±13.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
48.1±7.6 24% 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% |
22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Stow 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stow and Readfield 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 34% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
$86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $405,500±$105k 22% above U.S. |
$729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S. |
$326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,782±$126Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,125±$844Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Stow and Readfield 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,392 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bowdoinham and Stow 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22%±11.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stow and Readfield 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 | #44 of 282 in MA | #20 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Nashoba | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
| 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.