Compare towns
Rangeley vs Stow vs Stonington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rangeley has the most expensive homes ($425k median).
Stow has the most kids (15.7% under 18).
Stonington has the shortest commute (16 min average).
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 | Rangeley | Stow | Stonington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 792 |
535Lowest |
840Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | +1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 64.3±3.2Highest 44% above ME |
57±10.5Lowest 27% above ME |
58.2±7.4 30% above ME |
| Rangeley and Stonington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 3.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.7%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
10.1%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Stow and Stonington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 49.1%±10.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
37.9%±17.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
38.5%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Rangeley and Stonington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
33.4% ME: 36.2% |
28.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Stow and Stonington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,243±$23k 22% below ME |
$42,204±$22kLowest 44% below ME |
$60,223±$16kHighest 19% below ME |
| Stonington and Rangeley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,700±$47kHighest 43% above ME |
$326,400±$42k 10% above ME |
$306,700±$146kLowest 3% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $671±$119Lowest 41% below ME |
— | $823±$172Highest 28% below ME |
| Stonington and Rangeley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,482 18% below ME |
$3,304Highest 9% above ME |
$1,819Lowest 40% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.6%±31.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
20.8%±18.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Rangeley and Stonington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
10.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
1971 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 min 65% above ME |
51 minHighest 109% above ME |
16 minLowest 36% below ME |
| Work from home | 4.1%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±12 ME: 15.9% |
21.1%±12.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Stonington and Stow 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.