Compare towns
Oakland vs Bowdoin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oakland has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Bowdoin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
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 | Oakland | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 6,309Highest |
3,188Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.2±6.9Lowest 10% below ME |
44.3±10Highest about the ME average |
| Bowdoin and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Oakland and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Oakland and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Oakland and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $77,813±$16kLowest 4% above ME |
$91,239±$13kHighest 22% above ME |
| Bowdoin and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,000±$23kLowest 20% below ME |
$292,800±$71kHighest about the ME average |
| Bowdoin and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$74 18% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,439Lowest 20% below ME |
$3,375Highest 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.4%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Bowdoin and Oakland 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 | #23 of 133 in ME | #28 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Messalonskee High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.