Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Strong vs Blaine
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
Bordering BridgewaterMonticello
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 48.8).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Blaine has the most kids (24.1% 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 | Bridgewater | Strong | Blaine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 484Lowest |
1,249Highest |
706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±8Highest 9% above ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
46.3±17Lowest 3% above ME |
| Bridgewater and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
24.1%±6.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Blaine and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.5%±2.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.1%±7.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bridgewater and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±3.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Blaine and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,417±$15k 12% below ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
$80,707±$24kHighest 8% above ME |
| Blaine and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $154,900±$78kLowest 48% below ME |
$183,900±$29kHighest 38% below ME |
— |
| Strong and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $768±$116 33% below ME |
$920±$276Highest 19% below ME |
$691±$303Lowest 39% below ME |
| Strong and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,417Lowest 53% below ME |
$1,950Highest 36% below ME |
$1,804 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.9%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1974Highest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 10% below ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 7.5%±5.1 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.