Compare towns
Appleton vs Lowell vs Wade
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Lowell has the most homeowners (88.5%).
Wade has the most affordable homes ($157k median).
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 | Appleton | Lowell | Wade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
378 |
244Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
— | — |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
55.5±8.6Highest 24% above ME |
53.6±18.5 20% above ME |
| Lowell and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±6.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Wade and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31.2%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
34.8%±10.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Wade and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
33.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kHighest 28% below ME |
$50,833±$31k 32% below ME |
$41,818±$25kLowest 44% below ME |
| Appleton and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$209,700±$30k 29% below ME |
$157,100±$109kLowest 47% below ME |
| Appleton and Lowell 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 | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,478Lowest 51% below ME |
$1,655 45% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% ME: 10.7% |
10.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
88.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
31 min 24% above ME |
34 minHighest 37% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.1%±6.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | — |
| High school 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.