Compare towns
Athens vs Ogunquit vs Harmony 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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Harmony has the most renters (32.2% rent).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
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 | Ogunquit | Harmony | Starks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 791 |
1,379Highest |
974 |
556Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
52.9±2.5 18% above ME |
46.7±9.4Lowest 4% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Athens and Harmony 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.1% ME: 36.2% |
21% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$54,063±$13k 28% below ME |
$63,500±$8k 15% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Starks 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$202,700±$58k 32% below ME |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
| 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 |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,449 52% below ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
43.5%±100 ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Starks 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.8% ME: 10.7% |
19.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
94.3% ME: 74.3% |
67.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
32 min 30% above ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.1%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.8%±8.2 ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Athens Public Schools | — | Harmony Public Schools | — |
| High school 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.