Compare towns
Lowell vs Patten 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).
Patten has the most people working from home (28.7%).
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 | Patten | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 378 |
1,154Highest |
346Lowest |
| 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 |
56.4±9.3 26% above ME |
| Patten and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
11.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15%±8.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Waltham 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%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
32.9%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Patten and Waltham 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% ME: 36.2% |
22.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±3.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Lowell and Waltham 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 |
$71,071±$14kHighest 5% below ME |
| Waltham 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 |
$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 | — | $389±$99Lowest 66% below ME |
$850±$567Highest 25% below ME |
| Waltham 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 |
$1,452 52% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
56%±64.1 ME: 48.4% |
15%±96.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Lowell and Patten 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% |
23.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
19.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 24% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
41 minHighest 67% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
28.7%±19.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.4%±6.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Patten 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.