Compare towns
Lowell vs Phillips 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).
Phillips has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
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 | Phillips | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 378 |
1,094Highest |
346Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -12.6% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 55.5±8.6 24% above ME |
49.7±3.7Lowest 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% |
20.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15%±8.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Phillips 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% |
21.3%±2.1Lowest 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Phillips 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 |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% 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 |
$190,800±$18k 36% below ME |
$181,300±$22kLowest 39% below ME |
| Lowell and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
$850±$567Highest 25% below ME |
| Waltham and Phillips 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 |
$2,582Highest 15% below ME |
$1,452Lowest 52% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
15%±96.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Lowell and Phillips 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% |
17.7% ME: 10.7% |
19.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 24% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
41 minHighest 67% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.4%±6.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Phillips and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.