C+

Lovell, ME

Source:

Affordability Score: 61/100

Population: 1,153 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Lovell, ME aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 1,153 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C+ (61/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $80,625, median home value of $295,000, median rent of $1,419 per month, and 36.1% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,295 per month (studio $893, 1BR $989, 3BR $1,801, 4BR $2,172). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $9,100 per year, consuming 11% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for Lovell, ME include rent. Pressure points are commute. Unemployment currently reads 3.1% and poverty 10.0% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income B-
$80,625
Median household income
Education C+
36.1%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing D
3.7x
Home value $295,000 vs income
Commute F
31 min
Average commute time
Rent A-
$1,295/mo
2BR fair market rent (19% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare B-
$9,100/yr
Center-based infant care (11% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$80,625
▲ 30% vs national
Per Capita Income
$55,931
Unemployment Rate
3.1%
Poverty Rate
10.0%

Housing

Median Home Value
$295,000
▲ 7% vs national
Median Rent
$1,419/mo
Owner Occupied
88.9%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,295/mo
▲ 8% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$893
1BR
$989
2BR
$1,295
3BR
$1,801
4BR
$2,172

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
36.1%
▲ 6 ppt vs national
High School+
66.6%
Median Age
52.2
Avg. Commute
31 min
▲ 5 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$9,100/yr
11% of income
Toddler (Center)
$8,493/yr
Preschool (Center)
$8,060/yr
School-Age (Center)
$7,280/yr

What This Means

Lovell, ME receives an overall affordability grade of C+ (61/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 1,153. This area performs well in rent. Challenges include commute. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Lovell ZIP Codes
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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Lovell, ME affordable?
Lovell, ME receives an overall affordability grade of C+ (61/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $80,625. Median home value is $295,000.
What is the cost of living in Lovell?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,419/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,295/mo. Infant childcare $9,100/yr. Median home value $295,000.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →