Compare towns
Lowell vs Mapleton vs Troy 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 oldest population (median age 55.5).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Troy has the most people working from home (25.3%).
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 | Troy | Wade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 378 |
1,884Highest |
984 |
244Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 55.5±8.6Highest 24% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
49.3±13.6 10% 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% |
20.7%±7 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±6.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Troy 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% |
27%±4.6 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% |
21.7%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% |
4.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Troy 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 |
$44,583±$14k 40% 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±$30k 29% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$213,000±$31kHighest 28% below ME |
$157,100±$109kLowest 47% below ME |
| Troy 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 |
$1,255±$211Highest 10% above ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,478Lowest 51% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$1,752 42% 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% |
53.2%±44.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Lowell and Troy 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% |
17.8%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% |
86.4% ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 13 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 24% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
50 minHighest 102% above ME |
34 min 37% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
25.3%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.1%±6.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| 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 | 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.