Compare towns
Jay vs Bowdoin vs Middletown Springs
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Bowdoin has the most expensive homes ($293k median).
Middletown Springs has the most kids (24% 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 | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
3,188Highest |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
44.3±10Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
| Jay and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middletown Springs and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middletown Springs and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$91,239±$13kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$82,000±$12k about the U.S. average |
| Bowdoin and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$292,800±$71kHighest 12% below U.S. |
$262,200±$24k 21% below U.S. |
| Bowdoin and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,208±$438 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,375Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$4,595Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jay and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Middletown Springs 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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 |
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.