Compare towns

Rome vs Lee vs Mount Vernon

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rome has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.7%).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($175k median).
Mount Vernon has the most people working from home (28.3%).

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.

MeasureRomeLeeMount Vernon
People
Population
1,215
925Lowest
1,716Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13.7%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-0.7%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+4.9%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
48.3±9.2
8% above ME
51.5±11.5Highest
15% above ME
47.1±6.2Lowest
5% above ME
Lee and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.4%±6.3
ME: 18.1%
21.8%±4.9Highest
ME: 18.1%
20.7%±5.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Lee and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.7%±9.1
ME: 22.4%
24.5%±4.9Lowest
ME: 22.4%
26.5%±1.5Highest
ME: 22.4%
Mount Vernon and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.1%
ME: 36.2%
14.1%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
42.3%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±4.8Highest
ME: 5.8%
4.8%±2.4
ME: 5.8%
1.6%±1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Rome and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,639±$25kHighest
4% above ME
$49,886±$5kLowest
33% below ME
$74,395±$6k
about the ME average
Rome and Mount Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$329,300±$36kHighest
11% above ME
$174,500±$25kLowest
41% below ME
$264,200±$23k
11% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,150±$56Highest
about the ME average
—
$893±$168Lowest
22% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,829
40% below ME
$1,547Lowest
49% below ME
$2,832Highest
7% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±59.8
ME: 48.4%
80%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
26.9%±36.9Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Lee and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.3%
ME: 10.7%
19.5%Highest
ME: 10.7%
4.8%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.9%
ME: 74.3%
97%Highest
ME: 74.3%
89.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
9 yrs newer than ME
1979
2 yrs newer than ME
1978Lowest
1 yr newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minLowest
21% above ME
35 minHighest
41% above ME
32 min
29% above ME
Work from home
7.4%±3.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
11.9%±4.7
ME: 15.9%
28.3%±11.6Highest
ME: 15.9%
Schools
School district — RSU 30/MSAD 30 RSU 38
High school in town — None 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.