Compare towns
Lagrange vs Howland vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lagrange has the most affordable homes ($126k median).
Howland has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).
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 | Lagrange | Howland | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 709 |
1,367Highest |
598Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.3% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±13.8 about the ME average |
47.6±10.2Highest 6% above ME |
44±10Lowest about the ME average |
| Howland and Lagrange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.7%±11.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
22%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.4%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Lagrange and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.8%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.6%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Howland and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
12% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Howland and Lagrange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,417±$14k 22% below ME |
$49,297±$21kLowest 34% below ME |
$64,500±$8kHighest 14% below ME |
| Chester and Lagrange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $126,000±$33kLowest 58% below ME |
$150,100±$52k 49% below ME |
$172,500±$59kHighest 42% below ME |
| Chester and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $831±$151Lowest 27% below ME |
$916±$246Highest 20% below ME |
$833±$51 27% below ME |
| Howland and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $869Lowest 71% below ME |
$1,546Highest 49% below ME |
$1,378 55% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±56.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
29%±18.2 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±37.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Lagrange and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.4% ME: 10.7% |
25.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
77.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 45% above ME |
31 minLowest 26% above ME |
33 min 34% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.1%±4.8 ME: 15.9% |
0%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Chester and Lagrange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 31/MSAD 31 | — |
| High school in town | — | Penobscot Valley High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
— |
| 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.