Compare towns
Hollis vs Strong vs Bowdoin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k 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 | Hollis | Strong | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,872Highest |
1,249Lowest |
3,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.8±4.2Lowest about the ME average |
47.5±8.9Highest 6% above ME |
44.3±10 about the ME average |
| Strong and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Strong and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Strong and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Hollis and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,950±$24kHighest 28% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
$91,239±$13k 22% above ME |
| Hollis and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,900±$27kHighest 14% above ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
$292,800±$71k about the ME average |
| Hollis and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$293Highest 20% above ME |
$920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
— |
| Hollis and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,625 14% below ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
$3,375Highest 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±30.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Hollis and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 18% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Hollis 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 | #88 of 133 in ME | — | #28 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.