Compare towns
Ashland vs Crystal vs Harmony
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Crystal has the most homeowners (92.8%).
Harmony has the most people working from home (14.8%).
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 | Crystal | Harmony |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,080Highest |
247Lowest |
974 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -12.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.4±9.1 19% above ME |
63.2±8.4Highest 41% above ME |
52.9±2.5Lowest 18% above ME |
| Crystal and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±11.8 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Harmony and Crystal 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% |
49%±5.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
0%±6.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Ashland and Harmony 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 |
$48,125±$13k 36% below ME |
$54,063±$13kHighest 28% below ME |
| Harmony and Crystal 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 |
$129,200±$60k 56% below ME |
$202,700±$58kHighest 32% below ME |
| Harmony and Crystal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,563±$922 37% above ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,511Highest 50% below ME |
$943Lowest 69% below ME |
$1,449 52% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±27.5 ME: 48.4% |
14.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
43.5%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Harmony 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% |
14.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
67.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1974Highest 3 yrs older than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.7%±2.7 ME: 15.9% |
0%±15.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.8%±8.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Harmony and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Harmony Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.