Compare towns
Lubec vs Bangor vs Patten
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lubec has the oldest population (median age 59.3).
Bangor has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.9%).
Patten has the most affordable homes ($128k 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.
| Measure | Lubec | Bangor | Patten |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,346 |
31,938Highest |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9% ME: +2.6% |
-3.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-13.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 59.3±4.5Highest 32% above ME |
41±1.3Lowest 8% below ME |
57.8±3.5 29% above ME |
| Lubec and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±1.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Bangor and Lubec are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 41.2%±3.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
38.5%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Lubec and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% ME: 36.2% |
35.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.6 ME: 5.8% |
10.4%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Bangor and Lubec are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,375±$11k 30% below ME |
$59,942±$7kHighest 20% below ME |
$51,484±$6kLowest 31% below ME |
| Bangor and Lubec are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $188,700±$26k 36% below ME |
$219,600±$10kHighest 26% below ME |
$127,600±$49kLowest 57% below ME |
| Bangor and Lubec are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $550±$204 52% below ME |
$1,055±$43Highest 7% below ME |
$389±$99Lowest 66% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,039 33% below ME |
$3,076Highest about the ME average |
$1,199Lowest 61% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.6%±25.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
51.5%±6.5 ME: 48.4% |
56%±64.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Patten and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.9% ME: 10.7% |
23.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% ME: 74.3% |
47.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 17 yrs older than ME |
1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME |
1966Highest 11 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
17 minLowest 33% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 26.3%±12.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
28.7%±19.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Patten and Lubec are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #37 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 85/MSAD 19 | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Bangor High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.3 |
— |
| 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.