Compare towns
Lowell vs Mapleton vs Milbridge vs Waltham
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%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Milbridge has the most people working from home (18.9%).
Waltham has the most affordable homes ($181k 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 | Lowell | Mapleton | Milbridge | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 378 |
1,884Highest |
1,222 |
346Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 55.5±8.6 24% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
50.3±6.2 12% above ME |
56.4±9.3Highest 26% above ME |
| Waltham 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.5%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
15%±8.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Milbridge and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.2%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
32.9%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Waltham 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.7% ME: 36.2% |
22.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±3.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $50,833±$31kLowest 32% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$60,536±$16k 19% below ME |
$71,071±$14k 5% below ME |
| Mapleton and Waltham 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 |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$240,400±$31kHighest 19% below ME |
$181,300±$22kLowest 39% below ME |
| Milbridge and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$619±$186 46% below ME |
$850±$567Highest 25% below ME |
| Waltham and Milbridge 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 |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$2,022Highest 33% below ME |
$1,452Lowest 52% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
45.8%±22.6 ME: 48.4% |
15%±96.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Lowell and Milbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.4% ME: 10.7% |
19.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.1% ME: 74.3% |
85.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 24% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
18 minLowest 26% below ME |
41 minHighest 67% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.4%±6.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Milbridge and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 37/MSAD 37 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.