Compare towns
Lowell vs Mapleton vs Monroe
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 oldest population (median age 55.5).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Monroe has the most people working from home (11.8%).
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 | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 378Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,001 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±8.6Highest 24% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
43.5±7 about the ME average |
| Lowell and Monroe 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% |
23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.2%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Lowell and Monroe 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% |
29.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe and Mapleton 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 |
$81,300±$7k 9% above ME |
| Mapleton and Monroe 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±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$220,300±$57kHighest 26% below ME |
| Monroe 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 |
$1,165±$152Highest about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,478Lowest 51% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$2,207Highest 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Lowell and Monroe 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% |
11.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 13 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 24% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
32 minHighest 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Monroe and Lowell 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 03/MSAD 03 |
| 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.