Compare towns
Athens vs Sumner 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 kids (21.7% under 18).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Harmony has the most expensive homes ($203k 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 | Sumner | Harmony |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 791Lowest |
845 |
974Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.7±7.2Lowest 6% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
52.9±2.5 18% 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% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±5.2Lowest 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% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±2.5Lowest 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% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±1.8 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 |
$57,750±$19kHighest 23% below ME |
$54,063±$13k 28% below ME |
| Sumner and Harmony 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 |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$202,700±$58kHighest 32% 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±$457 53% below ME |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,449 52% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
43.5%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
67.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 18% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
32 min 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.8%±8.2 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 | RSU 10 | 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 |
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.