Compare towns
Harmony vs Sumner vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harmony has the most expensive homes ($203k median).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Ashland has the shortest commute (21 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 | Harmony | Sumner | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 974 |
845Lowest |
1,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±2.5Lowest 18% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
53.4±9.1 19% above ME |
| Sumner and Ashland 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% |
17.2%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.3%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Sumner and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
32.2%±8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Ashland and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Ashland and Harmony 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 |
$57,750±$19kHighest 23% below ME |
$46,838±$15kLowest 37% below ME |
| Sumner and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $202,700±$58kHighest 32% below ME |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
$125,000±$49kLowest 58% below ME |
| Harmony and Sumner 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 |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,511 50% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±100 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
25.7%±27.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Harmony 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% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 30% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.8%±8.2 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Harmony Public Schools | RSU 10 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.