Compare towns
Woolwich vs Appleton vs Bowdoinham vs Bath
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 expensive homes ($406k median).
Bath has the most renters (35.7% rent).
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 | Woolwich | Appleton | Bowdoinham | Bath |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,158 |
1,360Lowest |
3,142 |
8,815Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±5.5Highest 25% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
51.9±13.1 16% above ME |
45.4±3Lowest about the ME average |
| 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% |
15.5%±3.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Bowdoinham and Bath 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% |
25.2%±4.1 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% |
42.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.5%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Bath and Appleton 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 |
$69,390±$12k 7% below 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 |
$310,900±$30k 5% above ME |
| Bowdoinham and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
— | $1,044±$116Lowest 8% below ME |
| Appleton and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,433Lowest 20% below ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$2,958 about the ME average |
$3,847Highest 27% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
100%±19.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
51.3%±15.2Lowest 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% |
12.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
93.8% ME: 74.3% |
64.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
24 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.9%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±6 ME: 15.9% |
| Bowdoinham and Bath 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 | #31 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 01 - LKRSU |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Morse High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 14.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.