What stands out worked out from the figures below

Phippsburg has the shortest commute (21 min average).

Bowdoinham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Phippsburg	Bowdoinham
People
Population	2,238Lowest	3,142Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	54.3±6.3Highest 21% above ME	51.9±13.1Lowest 16% above ME
	Phippsburg and Bowdoinham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.5%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1%	17.5%±6.8Highest ME: 18.1%
	Bowdoinham and Phippsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	34.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4%	21.4%±6.7Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%	43.8%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8%	0.7%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Phippsburg and Bowdoinham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,833±$19kLowest 44% above ME	$108,479±$21kHighest 45% above ME
	Bowdoinham and Phippsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$335,800±$47kLowest 13% above ME	$405,500±$105kHighest 37% above ME
	Bowdoinham and Phippsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,022±$346 10% below ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,034Lowest 33% below ME	$2,958Highest about the ME average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.5%±98.7Lowest ME: 48.4%	100%±19.4Highest ME: 48.4%
	Bowdoinham and Phippsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	13.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	93.8%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Lowest 7 yrs newer than ME	1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 13% below ME	27 minHighest 10% above ME
Work from home	11.7%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	22%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Bowdoinham and Phippsburg 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	—	#73 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 01 - LKRSU	RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.