Compare towns
Bowdoinham vs Windham vs Readfield vs Naples
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 most homeowners (93.8%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Naples has the most people working from home (26.7%).
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 | Windham | Readfield | Naples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,142 |
19,188Highest |
2,651Lowest |
3,985 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
0%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±13.1Highest 16% above ME |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% below ME |
48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
49.8±6.8 11% above ME |
| Bowdoinham and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±6.8 ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Windham 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% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.3%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Naples and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% ME: 36.2% |
44.2% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
37.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Windham 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±$21kHighest 45% above ME |
$107,934±$14k 44% above ME |
$86,504±$8k 16% above ME |
$78,188±$13kLowest 5% above ME |
| Bowdoinham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $405,500±$105kHighest 37% above ME |
$388,900±$22k 31% above ME |
$326,400±$20kLowest 10% above ME |
$340,100±$48k 15% above ME |
| Bowdoinham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,232±$332 8% above ME |
$1,125±$844Lowest about the ME average |
$1,941±$625Highest 70% above ME |
| Naples and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,958 about the ME average |
$3,938Highest 30% above ME |
$3,392 12% above ME |
$2,784Lowest 8% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±19.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
59.9%±40.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Bowdoinham and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5% ME: 10.7% |
9.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 10% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
38 minHighest 56% above ME |
| Work from home | 22%±11.7 ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
26.7%±11.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Naples 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #20 of 133 in ME | #118 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 14 | RSU 38 | RSU 61/MSAD 61 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Maranacook Community High Sch | Lake Region High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.5Lowest |
11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.