Compare towns
Lyman vs Bowdoin vs Minot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyman has the most expensive homes ($360k median).
Bowdoin has the most kids (19.1% under 18).
Minot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Lyman | Bowdoin | Minot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,612Highest |
3,188 |
2,794Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±2Highest 20% above ME |
44.3±10Lowest about the ME average |
49±6.1 9% above ME |
| Lyman and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Bowdoin and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Lyman and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Minot and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,284±$14kLowest 17% above ME |
$91,239±$13k 22% above ME |
$95,655±$17kHighest 28% above ME |
| Minot and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,400±$44kHighest 22% above ME |
$292,800±$71kLowest about the ME average |
$294,900±$26k about the ME average |
| Lyman and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$522Highest 7% below ME |
— | $878±$801Lowest 23% below ME |
| Lyman and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,717 11% below ME |
$3,375Highest 11% above ME |
$2,602Lowest 14% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±44.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
35.7%±40.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Lyman and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% ME: 10.7% |
11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95% ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 35% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Lyman and Minot 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 | #40 of 133 in ME | #28 of 133 in ME | #78 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 16 |
| 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.