Compare towns
Woolwich vs Ellsworth 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).
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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.
| Measure | Woolwich | Ellsworth | Bowdoinham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,158 |
8,657Highest |
3,142Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±5.5Highest 25% above ME |
43±2.4Lowest 4% 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% |
18.4%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±6.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Ellsworth 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% |
22.1%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±6.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
39.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Ellsworth 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 |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% above 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 |
$242,300±$22kLowest 18% 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 | — | $1,017±$195 11% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,433Lowest 20% below ME |
$3,262Highest 7% above ME |
$2,958 about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
62.1%±15.7Lowest 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% |
9.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 20% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
27 min 10% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±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 | #63 of 133 in ME | #73 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Ellsworth Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ellsworth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.