Compare towns
Camden vs Nelson vs Boothbay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Camden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Boothbay has the shortest commute (13 min average).
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 | Camden | Nelson | Boothbay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,242Highest |
648Lowest |
3,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.2±6.5 34% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
56.8±3.9Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Boothbay and Camden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Camden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 38%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.4%±7.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Camden and Boothbay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Boothbay and Camden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,344±$15k about the U.S. average |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$60,320±$17kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Camden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $520,600±$70kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$342,100±$43k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,269±$354Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,147±$121Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Camden and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,832Highest 87% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$2,202Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nelson and Camden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
13 minLowest 50% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.3%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Camden 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 | #11 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 28/MSAD 28 | Nelson School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.