Compare towns
Naples vs Bow vs Wiscasset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Naples has the most people working from home (26.7%).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Wiscasset has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Naples | Bow | Wiscasset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,985 |
8,335Highest |
3,874Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.8±6.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
48.8±6.3 25% above U.S. |
| Naples and Wiscasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wiscasset and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,188±$13k 3% below U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$71,118±$37kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,100±$48k about the U.S. average |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$325,200±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,941±$625Highest 37% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,518±$485Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Naples and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,784Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$3,550 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.9%±40.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.6%±15.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Naples and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±11.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±10.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Naples and Bow 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 | #118 of 133 in ME | #26 of 120 in NH | #108 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 61/MSAD 61 | Bow School District | Wiscasset Public Schools |
| High school in town | Lake Region High School | Bow High School | Wiscasset Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
12.8Highest |
7.2Lowest |
| 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.