Compare towns
Woolwich vs Bowdoinham vs Bristol
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 most affordable homes ($255k median).
Bowdoinham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Bristol has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Bowdoinham | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,158Highest |
3,142 |
2,917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±5.5 25% above ME |
51.9±13.1Lowest 16% above ME |
61±3.2Highest 36% above ME |
| Bristol and Woolwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±6.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Bowdoinham and Woolwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.9%±8.2 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±6.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
42.8%±8.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bristol and Woolwich 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% |
43.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Woolwich and Bristol 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 |
$108,479±$21kHighest 45% above ME |
$100,750±$19kLowest 35% 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±$59kLowest 14% below ME |
$405,500±$105k 37% above ME |
$406,400±$54kHighest 37% above ME |
| Bristol and Bowdoinham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,051±$106 8% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,433Lowest 20% below ME |
$2,958Highest about the ME average |
$2,668 12% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
100%±19.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
23.4%±19.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Bowdoinham and Woolwich 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% |
13.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
93.8% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 20% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22%±11.7 ME: 15.9% |
25%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Bristol and Bowdoinham 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 | #16 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Bristol Public Schools |
| 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.