Compare towns
Union vs Meredith vs Bowdoin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Meredith has the most expensive homes ($480k median).
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 | Union | Meredith | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,663Lowest |
6,758Highest |
3,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.3±10 14% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$91,239±$13kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Bowdoin and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$292,800±$71k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
— |
| Union and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
$3,375 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Union 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH | #28 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.