Compare towns
Wade vs Lowell vs Mapleton vs Perham
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 renters (21.7% rent).
Lowell has the most expensive homes ($210k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Perham has the most affordable homes ($118k 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 | Wade | Lowell | Mapleton | Perham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 244Lowest |
378 |
1,884Highest |
326 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 53.6±18.5 20% above ME |
55.5±8.6Highest 24% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
53±12.9 18% 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%±6.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.6%±8.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Perham 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% |
31.2%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±2.3 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% ME: 36.2% |
30% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
18.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Perham 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 |
$50,833±$31k 32% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$62,500±$22k 16% below ME |
| Mapleton and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $157,100±$109k 47% below ME |
$209,700±$30kHighest 29% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$117,600±$9kLowest 60% below ME |
| Lowell and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $610±$277 46% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,655 45% below ME |
$1,478Lowest 51% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$1,641 46% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Lowell and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% ME: 10.7% |
10.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
2.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.5% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 37% above ME |
31 min 24% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 10.1%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±7.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.