Compare towns
Wade vs Mapleton vs Monroe 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).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Monroe has the most people working from home (11.8%).
Lowell has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Mapleton | Monroe | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 244Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,001 |
378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 53.6±18.5 20% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
43.5±7 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%±6.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe and Mapleton 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% |
22.6%±4.5 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% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe and Mapleton 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 |
$81,300±$7k 9% above ME |
$50,833±$31k 32% below ME |
| Mapleton and Monroe 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 |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$220,300±$57kHighest 26% below ME |
$209,700±$30k 29% below ME |
| Monroe and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,165±$152Highest about the ME average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,655 45% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$2,207Highest 27% below ME |
$1,478Lowest 51% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Lowell and Monroe 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% |
11.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
88.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1990 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 37% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
32 min 28% above ME |
31 min 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.1%±6.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Monroe and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — |
| High school in town | — | None 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.