Compare towns
Lowell vs Appleton vs Wallagrass
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most homeowners (88.5%).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Wallagrass has the shortest commute (25 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 | Lowell | Appleton | Wallagrass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 378Lowest |
1,360Highest |
514 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±8.6 24% above ME |
49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
55.6±8.2Highest 24% above ME |
| Wallagrass and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
16.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Wallagrass and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.2%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
39.5%±8.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Wallagrass and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Wallagrass are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $50,833±$31k 32% below ME |
$53,618±$19kHighest 28% below ME |
$48,833±$5kLowest 35% 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 | $209,700±$30k 29% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$194,900±$35kLowest 34% 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±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$932±$95Lowest 18% below ME |
| Appleton and Wallagrass are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,478 51% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,470Lowest 52% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
32%±61.8Lowest 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 | 10.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
3.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 24% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 10.8%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.8%±8.1Lowest 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.