Compare towns
Lowell vs Unity vs Wade
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 homeowners (88.5%).
Unity has the youngest population (median age 27.5).
Wade has the most affordable homes ($157k median).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Wade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 378 |
1,858Highest |
244Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.2% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 55.5±8.6Highest 24% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
53.6±18.5 20% above ME |
| Lowell and Wade 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% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±6.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Wade and Unity 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% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
34.8%±10.8Highest 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% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
33.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $50,833±$31k 32% below ME |
$62,857±$6kHighest 16% below ME |
$41,818±$25kLowest 44% below ME |
| Unity 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 |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$157,100±$109kLowest 47% below ME |
| Lowell and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $873±$73 23% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,478Lowest 51% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,655 45% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Lowell and Unity 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% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 24% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
34 minHighest 37% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.1%±6.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Unity and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | — |
| High school in town | — | Ecology Learning Ctr | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— |
| 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.