Compare towns
Rome vs Starks vs Lovell
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%).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
Lovell has the most people working from home (21.8%).
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 | Rome | Starks | Lovell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,215 |
556Lowest |
1,353Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±9.2 8% above ME |
46.7±9.4Lowest 4% above ME |
52.2±3.5Highest 17% above ME |
| Lovell and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Rome and Starks 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% |
20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.5%±3.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Lovell 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.8 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.3%±4.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Lovell and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,639±$25k 4% above ME |
$63,500±$8kLowest 15% below ME |
$80,625±$20kHighest 8% above ME |
| Lovell and Rome 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 |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
$295,000±$47k about the ME average |
| Rome and Lovell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$56 about the ME average |
$1,063±$301Lowest 7% below ME |
$1,419±$178Highest 25% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,829Highest 40% below ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$1,480 51% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±59.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
45.3%±29.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Rome and Starks 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% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90% ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 21% above ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
31 min 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.4%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | RSU 72/MSAD 72 |
| High school 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.