Compare towns
Stow vs Sweden vs Jackman
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%).
Sweden has the highest household income ($74k).
Jackman has the most affordable homes ($173k 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 | Sweden | Jackman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 535Lowest |
537 |
695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -9.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 57±10.5Highest 27% above ME |
51.1±19.2Lowest 14% above ME |
54.2±5.7 21% above ME |
| Stow and Jackman 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% |
21.8%±5.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.5%±6.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Sweden and Stow 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% |
20.3%±8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.7%±6.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Stow and Jackman 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% |
34.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Stow and Sweden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $42,204±$22k 44% below ME |
$73,750±$25kHighest about the ME average |
$33,625±$19kLowest 55% below ME |
| Sweden and Stow 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 |
$311,300±$61k 5% above ME |
$172,700±$61kLowest 42% below ME |
| Stow and Sweden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,667±$815Highest 46% above ME |
$475±$143Lowest 58% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,304Highest 9% above ME |
$2,598 14% below ME |
$1,492Lowest 51% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100 ME: 48.4% |
8.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
57.1%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Jackman and Stow 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% |
14.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
92.2% ME: 74.3% |
89.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 51 minHighest 109% above ME |
31 min 25% above ME |
27 minLowest 11% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.7%±12Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.5%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Stow and Jackman 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.