What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lowell has the most expensive homes ($210k median).

Wade has the most affordable homes ($157k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lowell	Wade
People
Population	378Highest	244Lowest
Median age	55.5±8.6Highest 24% above ME	53.6±18.5Lowest 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%	16.4%±6.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Wade 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%	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%Lowest ME: 36.2%	33.2%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%	0.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Lowell and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$50,833±$31kHighest 32% below ME	$41,818±$25kLowest 44% below ME
	Lowell and Wade 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	$157,100±$109kLowest 47% below ME
	Lowell and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,478Lowest 51% below ME	$1,655Highest 45% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	80%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Lowell and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.8%Highest ME: 10.7%	4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME	1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 24% above ME	34 minHighest 37% above ME
Work from home	10.8%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9%	10.1%±6.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Lowell and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
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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.