Compare towns
Woolwich vs Brewer 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).
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Bowdoinham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Brewer | Bowdoinham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,158 |
9,652Highest |
3,142Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±5.5Highest 25% above ME |
40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below 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% |
20.9%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±6.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Brewer and Bowdoinham 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% |
22.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±6.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Woolwich and Brewer 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% |
35%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,175±$26k 37% above ME |
$66,613±$9kLowest 11% 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 |
$245,300±$21kLowest 17% 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 | — | $1,086±$54 5% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,433Lowest 20% below ME |
$3,374Highest 11% above ME |
$2,958 about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±19.4Highest 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% |
12.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 20% above ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #32 of 133 in ME | #73 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Brewer Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Brewer High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.0 |
— |
| 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.