Compare towns
Lowell vs Patten vs Castle Hill
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).
Patten has the most people working from home (28.7%).
Castle Hill has the shortest commute (19 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 | Patten | Castle Hill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 378 |
1,154Highest |
281Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -13.4% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 55.5±8.6Lowest 24% above ME |
57.8±3.5Highest 29% above ME |
57.8±15.8Highest 29% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
11.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Castle Hill and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.2%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
38.5%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
44.8%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Castle Hill and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±5.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Castle Hill 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±$31kLowest 32% below ME |
$51,484±$6k 31% below ME |
$54,250±$14kHighest 27% below ME |
| Castle Hill and Patten 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 |
$127,600±$49kLowest 57% below ME |
$145,300±$18k 51% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $389±$99Lowest 66% below ME |
$950±$574Highest 17% below ME |
| Castle Hill and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,478Highest 51% below ME |
$1,199Lowest 61% below ME |
$1,449 52% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
56%±64.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
75%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Lowell and Castle Hill 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% |
23.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% ME: 74.3% |
82.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 24% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
28.7%±19.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±9.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Patten and Lowell 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.