Compare towns
Ashland vs Mapleton vs Van Buren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Van Buren has the shortest commute (15 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 | Mapleton | Van Buren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,080Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,858 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.4±9.1 19% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
56±3.2Highest 25% above ME |
| Van Buren 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Van Buren 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
35.3%±7.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Van Buren 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
10.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$40,170±$4kLowest 46% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $125,000±$49k 58% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$97,700±$24kLowest 67% below ME |
| Mapleton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$733±$141Highest 36% below ME |
| Van Buren 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 |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$1,415Lowest 53% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±27.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.7%±11Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Van Buren 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% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
64.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 4 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1958Lowest 19 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 14% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
15 minLowest 40% below ME |
| Work from home | 4.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.3%±5 ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 88/MSAD 24 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Van Buren District Secondary Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.3 |
| 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.