Compare towns
Lowell vs Mount Chase 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 expensive homes ($210k median).
Mount Chase has the most people working from home (22.2%).
Waltham has the highest household income ($71k).
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 | Mount Chase | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 378Highest |
280Lowest |
346 |
| Median age | 55.5±8.6 24% above ME |
49.9±10.9Lowest 11% 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% |
22.1%±10.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
15%±8.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Mount Chase and Waltham 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% |
28.9%±6.3Lowest 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% |
32.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±5.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mount Chase 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 |
$41,711±$7kLowest 44% below ME |
$71,071±$14kHighest 5% below ME |
| Waltham 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 |
$115,700±$15kLowest 61% below ME |
$181,300±$22k 39% below ME |
| Lowell and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,281±$1kHighest 12% above ME |
$850±$567Lowest 25% below ME |
| Mount Chase and Waltham 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 |
$1,548Highest 49% below ME |
$1,452Lowest 52% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
28.6%±100 ME: 48.4% |
15%±96.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Lowell and Mount Chase are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
30.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
19.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1986Lowest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1986Lowest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 24% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
41 minHighest 67% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22.2%±12.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.4%±6.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Mount Chase and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.