Compare towns
Ashland vs Lowell vs Mapleton vs Oakfield
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).
Oakfield 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 | Lowell | Mapleton | Oakfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,080 |
378Lowest |
1,884Highest |
629 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.7% ME: +2.6% |
— | -3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.4±9.1 19% above ME |
55.5±8.6 24% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
57.7±6.3Highest 29% above ME |
| Oakfield and Lowell 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%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Ashland 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% |
31.2%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
36.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Oakfield and Ashland 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% |
30% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
10.4%Lowest 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% |
3.2%±2.7 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±$15k 37% below ME |
$50,833±$31k 32% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$46,378±$3kLowest 38% below ME |
| Mapleton and Lowell 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 |
$144,300±$46k 51% below ME |
| Lowell and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $610±$277Highest 46% below ME |
$592±$261Lowest 48% below ME |
| Mapleton and Oakfield 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 |
$1,478 51% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$1,272Lowest 58% 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% |
21.6%±13.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Lowell 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% |
10.8% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
69.9% 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 min 14% below ME |
31 minHighest 24% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
19 minLowest 25% below ME |
| Work from home | 4.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.6%±4.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| 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.