Compare towns
Wade vs Washburn 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1951).
Washburn has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
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 | Washburn | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 244Lowest |
1,355Highest |
378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -9.5% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 53.6±18.5 20% above ME |
48.2±7.7Lowest 8% above 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% |
21.7%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Washburn and Wade 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% |
24%±3.7Lowest 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% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Washburn 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 |
$56,196±$6kHighest 25% below ME |
$50,833±$31k 32% below ME |
| Washburn 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±$109k 47% below ME |
$112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME |
$209,700±$30kHighest 29% below ME |
| Lowell and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $482±$62 58% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,655Highest 45% below ME |
$1,571 48% below ME |
$1,478Lowest 51% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±24.7 ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest 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% |
12.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3% ME: 74.3% |
78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1969 8 yrs older than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 37% above ME |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
31 min 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.1%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Lowell and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 45/MSAD 45 | — |
| High school 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 |
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.