Compare towns
Athens vs Harmony vs Sumner vs Starks
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 kids (21.7% under 18).
Harmony has the most expensive homes ($203k median).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Starks has the highest household income ($64k).
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 | Harmony | Sumner | Starks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 791 |
974Highest |
845 |
556Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6% ME: +2.6% |
-12.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
52.9±2.5 18% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
46.7±9.4Lowest 4% above ME |
| Sumner and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±5.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Athens and Sumner 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% |
22.9%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner 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% ME: 36.2% |
21.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Athens and Harmony 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 |
$54,063±$13k 28% below ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$63,500±$8kHighest 15% below ME |
| Starks and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $153,100±$33k 48% below ME |
$202,700±$58kHighest 32% below ME |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
| Harmony and Athens 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 |
— | — | $1,063±$301Highest 7% below ME |
| Starks and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,355 55% below ME |
$1,449 52% below ME |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
43.5%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
15.8% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
67.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
90% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 18% above ME |
32 min 30% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
33 min 33% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.1%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
14.8%±8.2 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest 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 | Athens Public Schools | Harmony Public Schools | RSU 10 | — |
| 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.