Compare towns
Castle Hill vs Jay vs Mapleton vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castle Hill has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Jay has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Ashland has the most renters (33.9% rent).
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 | Castle Hill | Jay | Mapleton | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 281Lowest |
4,657Highest |
1,884 |
1,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.8% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 57.8±15.8Highest 29% above ME |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
53.4±9.1 19% above ME |
| Castle Hill and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±5.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.3%±3.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 44.8%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32.2%±8 ME: 22.4% |
| Castle Hill and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.7% ME: 36.2% |
29.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±5.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,250±$14k 27% below ME |
$70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$46,838±$15kLowest 37% below ME |
| Mapleton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $145,300±$18k 51% below ME |
$168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$125,000±$49kLowest 58% below ME |
| Mapleton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $950±$574Highest 17% below ME |
$759±$141 33% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
— |
| Castle Hill and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,449Lowest 52% below ME |
$2,245Highest 26% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,511 50% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25.7%±27.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Castle Hill and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.8% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
23.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.7% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
66.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 24% below ME |
21 min 13% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #86 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | — | RSU 73 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| High school in town | — | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.