Compare towns

Stoneham vs Rangeley vs Stow

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoneham has the most people working from home (40.7%).
Rangeley has the most expensive homes ($425k median).
Stow has the most kids (15.7% under 18).

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.

MeasureStonehamRangeleyStow
People
Population
271Lowest
792Highest
535
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4.6%
ME: +2.6%
—
Median age
60.6±7.1
35% above ME
64.3±3.2Highest
44% above ME
57±10.5Lowest
27% above ME
Rangeley and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
5.9%±7.9
ME: 18.1%
3.9%±4.3Lowest
ME: 18.1%
15.7%±5.7Highest
ME: 18.1%
Stow and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
41%±17.8
ME: 22.4%
49.1%±10.3Highest
ME: 22.4%
37.9%±17.8Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Rangeley and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.8%Highest
ME: 36.2%
33.6%
ME: 36.2%
33.4%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
14.8%±13.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
0%±2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
3%±1.2
ME: 5.8%
Stoneham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$63,750±$27kHighest
15% below ME
$58,243±$23k
22% below ME
$42,204±$22kLowest
44% below ME
Stoneham and Rangeley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$226,200±$32kLowest
24% below ME
$424,700±$47kHighest
43% above ME
$326,400±$42k
10% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$383Highest
about the ME average
$671±$119Lowest
41% below ME
—
Stoneham and Rangeley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,426Lowest
53% below ME
$2,482
18% below ME
$3,304Highest
9% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.7%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
62.6%±31.2
ME: 48.4%
20%±100Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Stoneham and Rangeley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.4%
ME: 10.7%
1.8%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
8.1%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.8%
ME: 74.3%
72.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
96.2%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
6 yrs newer than ME
1969Lowest
8 yrs older than ME
1998Highest
21 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
18% above ME
41 min
65% above ME
51 minHighest
109% above ME
Work from home
40.7%±15.2Highest
ME: 15.9%
4.1%±3.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
17.7%±12
ME: 15.9%
Stoneham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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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.