Compare towns
Harmony vs Hampden vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($125k median).
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 | Harmony | Hampden | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 974Lowest |
7,896Highest |
1,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±2.5 18% above ME |
41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
53.4±9.1Highest 19% 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 | 16.4%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.3%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32.2%±8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Ashland and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.1% ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Hampden and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,063±$13k 28% below ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
$46,838±$15kLowest 37% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $202,700±$58k 32% below ME |
$301,300±$38kHighest about the ME average |
$125,000±$49kLowest 58% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,286±$317 13% above ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,449Lowest 52% below ME |
$3,694Highest 22% above ME |
$1,511 50% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25.7%±27.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Harmony and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.8% ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 30% above ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.8%±8.2 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden and Harmony 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 | — | #6 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Harmony Public Schools | RSU 22 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Hampden Academy | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8 |
— |
| 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.