Compare towns
Stow vs Moose River vs Stoneham
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 expensive homes ($326k median).
Moose River has the most kids (32.3% under 18).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (40.7%).
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 | Moose River | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 535Highest |
248Lowest |
271 |
| Median age | 57±10.5 27% above ME |
32.9±8.2Lowest 27% below ME |
60.6±7.1Highest 35% above ME |
| Stoneham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
32.3%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.9%±7.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 37.9%±17.8 ME: 22.4% |
8.5%±10.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
41%±17.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Stoneham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4% ME: 36.2% |
14.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
37.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4%±6.2 ME: 5.8% |
14.8%±13.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Stoneham and Moose River 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 |
$76,324±$9kHighest about the ME average |
$63,750±$27k 15% below ME |
| Moose River and Stoneham 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 |
$144,900±$31kLowest 51% below ME |
$226,200±$32k 24% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,125±$383 about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,304Highest 9% above ME |
$928Lowest 69% below ME |
$1,426 53% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
66.7%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Stoneham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% ME: 10.7% |
14.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.3% ME: 74.3% |
89.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 51 minHighest 109% above ME |
15 minLowest 39% below ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.7%±12 ME: 15.9% |
4.5%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
40.7%±15.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Stoneham 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.