Compare towns
Mapleton vs Ashland vs Lowell vs Chapman
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 youngest population (median age 41.8).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($125k median).
Lowell has the most expensive homes ($210k median).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
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 | Chapman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884Highest |
1,080 |
378Lowest |
388 |
| 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 |
45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
| 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%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
14.3%±3.8 ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Mapleton 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% |
27.6%±3.8 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% |
22.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$46,838±$15kLowest 37% below ME |
$50,833±$31k 32% below ME |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
| Chapman and Mapleton 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 |
$185,700±$22k 37% 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 | $1,789 41% below ME |
$1,511 50% below ME |
$1,478Lowest 51% below ME |
$1,850Highest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
25.7%±27.5 ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% ME: 10.7% |
23.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.8% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
66.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.5% ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 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 |
23 min 6% below 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% |
4.8%±3.5 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 | 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.