Compare towns
Lowell vs Mapleton vs Wade vs Weston
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).
Wade has the most affordable homes ($157k median).
Weston has the shortest commute (18 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 | Mapleton | Wade | Weston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 378 |
1,884Highest |
244Lowest |
275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
— | — |
| Median age | 55.5±8.6Highest 24% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
53.6±18.5 20% above ME |
55.1±14 23% above ME |
| Lowell and Weston 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% |
16.4%±6.7 ME: 18.1% |
14.9%±7.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Wade 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% |
34.8%±10.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.8%±4.3 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% |
33.2% ME: 36.2% |
23.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±4.5 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±$31k 32% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$41,818±$25kLowest 44% below ME |
$58,942±$7k 21% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,700±$30kHighest 29% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$157,100±$109kLowest 47% below ME |
$171,700±$26k 42% 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±$277 46% below ME |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,478Lowest 51% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$1,655 45% below ME |
$1,500 51% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Weston and Lowell 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% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 24% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
34 minHighest 37% above ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.1%±6.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±12.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Weston 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.