Compare towns
Jay vs Bowdoin vs Chesterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Bowdoin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
Chesterville has the most kids (31.3% 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 | Jay | Bowdoin | Chesterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,657Highest |
3,188 |
1,397Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1 12% below ME |
44.3±10Highest about the ME average |
37.8±4Lowest 16% below ME |
| Bowdoin and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2 ME: 18.1% |
31.3%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Chesterville and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
15%±3 ME: 22.4% |
| Jay and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7% ME: 36.2% |
30.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
$91,239±$13kHighest 22% above ME |
$61,635±$10kLowest 18% below ME |
| Bowdoin and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $168,600±$27kLowest 43% below ME |
$292,800±$71kHighest about the ME average |
$214,000±$40k 28% below ME |
| Bowdoin and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141Lowest 33% below ME |
— | $1,088±$73Highest 4% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245 26% below ME |
$3,375Highest 11% above ME |
$2,194Lowest 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
21.8%±30.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Jay and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11% ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
86.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Bowdoin and Chesterville 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 | #86 of 133 in ME | #28 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 73 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | — |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.