Compare towns

Franklin vs Bowdoin

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Bowdoin has the highest household income ($91k).

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.

MeasureFranklinBowdoin
People
Population
1,628Lowest
3,188Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+2.5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
46±9.3Highest
about the ME average
44.3±10Lowest
about the ME average
Franklin and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.3%±3.9Lowest
ME: 18.1%
19.1%±6.2Highest
ME: 18.1%
Bowdoin and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.6%±3.5Highest
ME: 22.4%
14.1%±4.7Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.5%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
30.4%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±2.6Highest
ME: 5.8%
2.5%±2.2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Franklin and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$65,455±$16kLowest
12% below ME
$91,239±$13kHighest
22% above ME
Bowdoin and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$245,800±$59kLowest
17% below ME
$292,800±$71kHighest
about the ME average
Bowdoin and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$888±$306
22% below ME
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,231Lowest
27% below ME
$3,375Highest
11% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
36.7%±27.8Highest
ME: 48.4%
0%±42.3Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Franklin and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
15.7%Highest
ME: 10.7%
11%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
76.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
84.7%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Lowest
7 yrs newer than ME
1992Highest
15 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
18% above ME
32 minHighest
29% above ME
Work from home
12.2%±5.5Highest
ME: 15.9%
11.7%±7Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Franklin and Bowdoin 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 — #28 of 133 in ME
School district — RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.