Compare towns
Ashland vs Danforth vs Harmony vs Guilford
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).
Danforth has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.3%).
Harmony has the most people working from home (14.8%).
Guilford has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Danforth | Harmony | Guilford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,080 |
666Lowest |
974 |
1,096Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.7% ME: +2.6% |
-0.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.1% ME: +2.6% |
-16.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.4±9.1 19% above ME |
53.1±4.4 19% above ME |
52.9±2.5Lowest 18% above ME |
53.5±7.4Highest 19% above ME |
| Guilford 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% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Harmony and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 32.2%±8Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.5%±4.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Ashland and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.8% ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
10.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±4.2 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±$8k 36% below ME |
$54,063±$13kHighest 28% below ME |
$53,173±$13k 29% below ME |
| Harmony and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $125,000±$49k 58% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$202,700±$58kHighest 32% below ME |
$170,100±$31k 43% below ME |
| Harmony and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $629±$29Highest 45% below ME |
— | $507±$336Lowest 55% below ME |
| Danforth and Guilford 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 |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,449 52% below ME |
$1,619Highest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±27.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
43.5%±100 ME: 48.4% |
67%±24Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Guilford and Harmony 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% |
13.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.8% ME: 10.7% |
14.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
67.8% ME: 74.3% |
78.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 14% below ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
19 minLowest 22% below ME |
| Work from home | 4.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
14.8%±8.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±8.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Harmony and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Harmony Public Schools | RSU 80/MSAD 04 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | Piscataquis Community Secondary School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.