Compare towns
Mapleton vs Ashland vs Lowell
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).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($125k median).
Lowell has the most homeowners (88.5%).
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 | Mapleton | Ashland | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,884Highest |
1,080 |
378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
53.4±9.1 19% above ME |
55.5±8.6Highest 24% above ME |
| Lowell and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.3%±3.8 ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±4.4Lowest 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+ | 18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32.2%±8Highest ME: 22.4% |
31.2%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Ashland and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.9Lowest 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 | $91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$46,838±$15kLowest 37% below ME |
$50,833±$31k 32% 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 | $191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$125,000±$49kLowest 58% below ME |
$209,700±$30kHighest 29% 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±$277 46% below ME |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$1,511 50% below ME |
$1,478Lowest 51% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25.7%±27.5 ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest 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 | 8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
66.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
31 minHighest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.