Compare towns
Athens vs Chapman vs Mapleton vs Harmony
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most affordable homes ($153k median).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Harmony has the most people working from home (14.8%).
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 | Athens | Chapman | Mapleton | Harmony |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 791 |
388Lowest |
1,884Highest |
974 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6% ME: +2.6% |
— | -3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
52.9±2.5Highest 18% above ME |
| Harmony and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±5 ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±5.2Lowest 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+ | 24.4%±2.7 ME: 22.4% |
27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Chapman and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±1.8Lowest 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 | $50,750±$14kLowest 32% below ME |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$54,063±$13k 28% below 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 | $153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME |
$185,700±$22k 37% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$202,700±$58kHighest 32% below ME |
| Harmony and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
— | $610±$277Highest 46% below ME |
— |
| Mapleton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
$1,850Highest 39% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,449 52% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
43.5%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
15.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
94.5% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
67.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
23 minLowest 6% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.1%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
14.8%±8.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Harmony and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Athens Public Schools | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Harmony Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.