Compare towns
Athens vs Mapleton vs Hope 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).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Harmony has the most renters (32.2% rent).
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 | Mapleton | Hope | Harmony |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 791Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,748 |
974 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±5.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Athens and Harmony 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Athens 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$54,063±$13k 28% below ME |
| Mapleton and Hope 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 |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$202,700±$58k 32% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,449 52% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
92.9% ME: 74.3% |
67.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.8%±8.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Hope 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Hope Public Schools | Harmony Public Schools |
| High school in town | None 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.