Compare towns

Woolwich vs Appleton vs Bowdoinham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Woolwich has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Bowdoinham has the most people working from home (22%).

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.

MeasureWoolwichAppletonBowdoinham
People
Population
3,158Highest
1,360Lowest
3,142
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.1%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+7.2%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+5.5%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
55.8±5.5Highest
25% above ME
49.2±7.4Lowest
10% above ME
51.9±13.1
16% above ME
Woolwich and Bowdoinham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15%±5.5Lowest
ME: 18.1%
15.3%±2.7
ME: 18.1%
17.5%±6.8Highest
ME: 18.1%
Bowdoinham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
33.9%±8.2Highest
ME: 22.4%
26.1%±9.3
ME: 22.4%
21.4%±6.7Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Woolwich and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52.9%Highest
ME: 36.2%
34.1%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
43.8%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±2.1
ME: 5.8%
3.7%±2.4Highest
ME: 5.8%
0.7%±1.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Appleton and Woolwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$102,175±$26k
37% above ME
$53,618±$19kLowest
28% below ME
$108,479±$21kHighest
45% above ME
Bowdoinham and Woolwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$254,500±$59k
14% below ME
$235,600±$33kLowest
21% below ME
$405,500±$105kHighest
37% above ME
Bowdoinham and Woolwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,104±$82
3% below ME
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,433Lowest
20% below ME
$3,588Highest
18% above ME
$2,958
about the ME average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.3%±100Lowest
ME: 48.4%
85.4%±100
ME: 48.4%
100%±19.4Highest
ME: 48.4%
Bowdoinham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
13.3%
ME: 10.7%
9.7%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
13.5%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.5%Highest
ME: 74.3%
82.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
93.8%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Lowest
5 yrs newer than ME
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
1985
8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
20% above ME
30 minHighest
23% above ME
27 minLowest
10% above ME
Work from home
11.9%±6.2
ME: 15.9%
11.1%±3.5Lowest
ME: 15.9%
22%±11.7Highest
ME: 15.9%
Bowdoinham and Woolwich 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 #92 of 133 in ME — #73 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 01 - LKRSU Appleton Public Schools RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.