Compare towns
Ashland vs Castle Hill vs Lowell vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the most renters (33.9% rent).
Castle Hill has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Lowell has the most expensive homes ($210k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Ashland | Castle Hill | Lowell | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,080 |
281Lowest |
378 |
1,884Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | — | -3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.4±9.1 19% above ME |
57.8±15.8Highest 29% above ME |
55.5±8.6 24% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Castle Hill and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.8 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±5.8 ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 32.2%±8 ME: 22.4% |
44.8%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
31.2%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Castle Hill and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26.7% ME: 36.2% |
30% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±5.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $46,838±$15kLowest 37% below ME |
$54,250±$14k 27% below ME |
$50,833±$31k 32% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Mapleton and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $125,000±$49kLowest 58% below ME |
$145,300±$18k 51% below ME |
$209,700±$30kHighest 29% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% 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 | — | $950±$574Highest 17% below ME |
— | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Castle Hill and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,511 50% below ME |
$1,449Lowest 52% below ME |
$1,478 51% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±27.5 ME: 48.4% |
75%±100 ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Lowell and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 23.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.8% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.5% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 14% below ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
31 minHighest 24% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school 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.