Compare towns
Ashland vs Exeter 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-7.7%).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
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 | Exeter | Harmony |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,080 |
1,093Highest |
974Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8% ME: +2.6% |
-12.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.4±9.1Highest 19% above ME |
52.6±7.7Lowest 17% above ME |
52.9±2.5 18% above ME |
| Ashland and Harmony 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% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Harmony and Ashland 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% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Ashland and Exeter 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% |
15% ME: 36.2% |
21.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Ashland and Exeter 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 |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$54,063±$13k 28% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $125,000±$49kLowest 58% below ME |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$202,700±$58kHighest 32% below ME |
| Harmony and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $995±$386 13% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,511 50% below ME |
$1,602Highest 47% below ME |
$1,449Lowest 52% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±27.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
43.5%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Harmony and Exeter 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% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
67.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
32 min 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
14.8%±8.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Harmony and Exeter 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.