Compare towns
Wade vs Mapleton vs Lowell vs Washburn
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1951).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Lowell has the most homeowners (88.5%).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k 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 | Mapleton | Lowell | Washburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 244Lowest |
1,884Highest |
378 |
1,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.6±18.5 20% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
55.5±8.6Highest 24% above ME |
48.2±7.7 8% 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Washburn 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31.2%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
24%±3.7 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% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30% ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Washburn 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$50,833±$31k 32% below ME |
$56,196±$6k 25% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $157,100±$109k 47% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$209,700±$30kHighest 29% below ME |
$112,900±$14kLowest 62% 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±$277Highest 46% below ME |
— | $482±$62Lowest 58% below ME |
| Mapleton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,655 45% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$1,478Lowest 51% below ME |
$1,571 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±24.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Lowell and Washburn 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
10.8% ME: 10.7% |
12.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
88.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1969 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 37% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 min 24% above ME |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.1%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | RSU 45/MSAD 45 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | Washburn District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.