Compare towns
Ashland vs Chapman vs Lowell
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 affordable homes ($125k median).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
Lowell has the most people working from home (10.8%).
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 | Chapman | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,080Highest |
388 |
378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.7% ME: +2.6% |
— | — |
| Median age | 53.4±9.1 19% above ME |
45.7±11.4Lowest about the ME average |
55.5±8.6Highest 24% above ME |
| Lowell and Ashland 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% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 32.2%±8Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.6%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31.2%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Ashland and Lowell 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% |
22.8% ME: 36.2% |
30%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman 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 |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
$50,833±$31k 32% below ME |
| Chapman and Lowell 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 |
$185,700±$22k 37% below ME |
$209,700±$30kHighest 29% below ME |
| Lowell and Chapman 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 |
$1,850Highest 39% below ME |
$1,478Lowest 51% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±27.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Lowell and Ashland 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% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.5% 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 |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
23 min 6% below ME |
31 minHighest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Lowell and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.