Compare towns
Fryeburg vs Stow vs Albion
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fryeburg has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Stow has the most kids (15.7% under 18).
Albion has the most affordable homes ($231k 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 | Fryeburg | Stow | Albion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,489Highest |
535Lowest |
2,204 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | -1.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.3±3.4 19% above ME |
57±10.5Highest 27% above ME |
52.9±7.5Lowest 18% above ME |
| Stow and Fryeburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±5 ME: 18.1% |
15.7%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
12.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Stow and Fryeburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±6.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
37.9%±17.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.8%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Stow and Albion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.6% ME: 36.2% |
33.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Stow and Fryeburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,076±$15k 25% below ME |
$42,204±$22kLowest 44% below ME |
$62,361±$23kHighest 17% below ME |
| Albion and Fryeburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,600±$30k 9% below ME |
$326,400±$42kHighest 10% above ME |
$230,900±$31kLowest 22% below ME |
| Stow and Fryeburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $893±$85 22% below ME |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,928 4% below ME |
$3,304Highest 9% above ME |
$1,987Lowest 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±14.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
46.2%±23.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Fryeburg and Albion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% ME: 74.3% |
96.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 20% below ME |
51 minHighest 109% above ME |
34 min 36% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±7.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±12Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.7%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Stow and Albion 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 | — | RSU 49/MSAD 49 |
| High school in town | None 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.