Compare towns
Poland vs Bowdoin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Poland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.9%).
Bowdoin has the highest household income ($91k).
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 | Poland | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 5,954Highest |
3,188Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.2±9.4Lowest about the ME average |
44.3±10Highest about the ME average |
| Bowdoin and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Poland and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±4.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Poland and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Poland and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $85,557±$23kLowest 14% above ME |
$91,239±$13kHighest 22% above ME |
| Bowdoin and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,600±$44kLowest 4% below ME |
$292,800±$71kHighest about the ME average |
| Bowdoin and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$128 5% above ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,774Lowest 9% below ME |
$3,375Highest 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.6%±30.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Poland and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 13% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.9%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Poland and Bowdoin 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 | #81 of 133 in ME | #28 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 16 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Poland Regional H S | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— |
| 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.