Compare towns
Wade vs Strong vs Mapleton 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).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Lowell has the most expensive homes ($210k 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 | Strong | Mapleton | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 244Lowest |
1,249 |
1,884Highest |
378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 53.6±18.5 20% above ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
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% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Strong 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% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest 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% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Strong 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 |
$47,557±$10k 36% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$50,833±$31k 32% below ME |
| Mapleton 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 |
$183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$209,700±$30kHighest 29% 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 | — | $920±$276Highest 19% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
— |
| Strong and Mapleton 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 |
$1,950Highest 36% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,478Lowest 51% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Lowell and Strong 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% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
10.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
88.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1971 6 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 37% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
31 min 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.1%±6.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.