Compare towns
West Gardiner vs Bowdoin vs Hollis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Gardiner has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Bowdoin has the most affordable homes ($293k median).
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | West Gardiner | Bowdoin | Hollis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,696 |
3,188Lowest |
4,872Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.8Lowest about the ME average |
44.3±10Highest about the ME average |
43.8±4.2 about the ME average |
| Bowdoin and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Bowdoin and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
16.8%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
| West Gardiner and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±5.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| West Gardiner and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,172±$30kHighest 29% above ME |
$91,239±$13kLowest 22% above ME |
$95,950±$24k 28% above ME |
| West Gardiner and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $305,100±$42k about the ME average |
$292,800±$71kLowest about the ME average |
$338,900±$27kHighest 14% above ME |
| Hollis and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,087±$150Lowest 5% below ME |
— | $1,372±$293Highest 20% above ME |
| Hollis and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,282Lowest 25% below ME |
$3,375Highest 11% above ME |
$2,625 14% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±9.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
48.9%±30.2 ME: 48.4% |
| West Gardiner and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% ME: 10.7% |
11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the ME average |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 13.8%±7.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hollis and West Gardiner 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 | #90 of 133 in ME | #28 of 133 in ME | #88 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 11/MSAD 11 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.