Compare towns
Wade vs Franklin vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wade has the most affordable homes ($157k median).
Franklin has the highest household income ($65k).
Lowell has the most homeowners (88.5%).
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 | Wade | Franklin | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 244Lowest |
1,628Highest |
378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.7% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 53.6±18.5 20% above ME |
46±9.3Lowest about the ME average |
55.5±8.6Highest 24% above ME |
| Lowell and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±6.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Wade and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.8%±10.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.6%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31.2%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Wade and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Franklin and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $41,818±$25kLowest 44% below ME |
$65,455±$16kHighest 12% below ME |
$50,833±$31k 32% below ME |
| Franklin and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $157,100±$109kLowest 47% below ME |
$245,800±$59kHighest 17% below ME |
$209,700±$30k 29% below ME |
| Franklin and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $888±$306 22% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,655 45% below ME |
$2,231Highest 27% below ME |
$1,478Lowest 51% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Lowell and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3% ME: 74.3% |
76.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 37% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
31 min 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.1%±6.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.2%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Franklin and Lowell 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.