Compare towns
Ashland vs Lowell vs Mapleton 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 most affordable homes ($125k median).
Lowell has the most homeowners (88.5%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Lowell | Mapleton | Harmony |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,080 |
378Lowest |
1,884Highest |
974 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.7% ME: +2.6% |
— | -3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.4±9.1 19% above ME |
55.5±8.6Highest 24% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
52.9±2.5 18% 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% |
13.2%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Harmony 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% |
31.2%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±2.5 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% |
30% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±1.8 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 |
$50,833±$31k 32% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$54,063±$13k 28% below ME |
| Mapleton and Harmony 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 |
$209,700±$30kHighest 29% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$202,700±$58k 32% below ME |
| Lowell and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $610±$277 46% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,511 50% below ME |
$1,478 51% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$1,449Lowest 52% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±27.5 ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
43.5%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Lowell 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% |
10.8% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
67.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
31 min 24% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
14.8%±8.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Harmony and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Harmony Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.