Compare towns
Lowell vs Mapleton vs Strong vs Wade
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 expensive homes ($210k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Wade has the most affordable homes ($157k 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 | Strong | Wade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 378 |
1,884Highest |
1,249 |
244Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 55.5±8.6Highest 24% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
53.6±18.5 20% above ME |
| Lowell and Wade 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%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±6.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Strong 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% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
34.8%±10.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Wade 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% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
33.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Strong 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$47,557±$10k 36% below ME |
$41,818±$25kLowest 44% below ME |
| Mapleton 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±$30kHighest 29% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
$157,100±$109kLowest 47% below ME |
| Lowell and Mapleton 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 |
$920±$276Highest 19% below ME |
— |
| Strong and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,478Lowest 51% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,950Highest 36% below ME |
$1,655 45% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Lowell and Strong 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% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1971 6 yrs older than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 24% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
34 minHighest 37% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.1%±6.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong 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 58/MSAD 58 | — |
| 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.