Compare towns
Ashland vs Crystal 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Crystal has the oldest population (median age 63.2).
Mapleton 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 | Crystal | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,080 |
247Lowest |
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 |
63.2±8.4Highest 41% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.9% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
0%±6.3Lowest 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 |
$48,125±$13k 36% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $125,000±$49kLowest 58% below ME |
$129,200±$60k 56% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
| Mapleton and Crystal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,563±$922Highest 37% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Crystal 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 |
$943Lowest 69% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±27.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
14.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Ashland and Mapleton 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% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.7%±2.7 ME: 15.9% |
0%±15.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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 |
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.