Compare towns
Chatham vs Stow vs Fryeburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chatham has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Stow has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Fryeburg has the shortest commute (20 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 | Chatham | Stow | Fryeburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 430Lowest |
535 |
3,489Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6Lowest 24% above U.S. |
57±10.5Highest 47% above U.S. |
53.3±3.4 37% above U.S. |
| Stow and Fryeburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Chatham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±10 U.S.: 17.2% |
37.9%±17.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stow and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chatham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,042±$19kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$42,204±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$56,076±$15k 31% below U.S. |
| Chatham and Fryeburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,900±$42kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$326,400±$42k about the U.S. average |
$268,600±$30kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Chatham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $893±$85 37% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,690Highest 18% above U.S. |
$3,304 6% above U.S. |
$2,928Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±14.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fryeburg and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1998Highest 18 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 35% above U.S. |
51 minHighest 95% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±12Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stow and Fryeburg 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 | — | — | #103 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | — | RSU 72/MSAD 72 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.