Compare towns
Stow vs Denmark vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stow has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Denmark has the highest household income ($64k).
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | Stow | Denmark | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 535 |
1,054Highest |
378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 57±10.5Highest 27% above ME |
54.4±5Lowest 21% above ME |
55.5±8.6 24% above ME |
| Stow and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Stow and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.9%±17.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
31.8%±7.4 ME: 22.4% |
31.2%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Stow and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Denmark and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $42,204±$22kLowest 44% below ME |
$64,167±$10kHighest 14% below ME |
$50,833±$31k 32% below ME |
| Denmark and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,400±$42kHighest 10% above ME |
$250,000±$68k 16% below ME |
$209,700±$30kLowest 29% below ME |
| Stow and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,409±$207 24% above ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,304Highest 9% above ME |
$2,259 26% below ME |
$1,478Lowest 51% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
90.6%±31Highest ME: 48.4% |
80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Denmark and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
10.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
92.7% ME: 74.3% |
88.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1990 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 51 minHighest 109% above ME |
34 min 39% above ME |
31 minLowest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.7%±12Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.7%±6.4 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Stow and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.