What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethel has the most kids (15.9% under 18).

Harrison has the most affordable homes ($249k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bethel	Harrison
People
Population	2,617Highest	2,513Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4%Highest ME: +2.6%	-10.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	50.2±6.4Lowest 12% above ME	56±3.6Highest 25% above ME
	Harrison and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.9%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1%	9.1%±3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Bethel and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.3%±6.5Lowest ME: 22.4%	29.8%±7.6Highest ME: 22.4%
	Harrison and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.3%Highest ME: 36.2%	30.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8%	2.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Bethel and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$58,929±$23kHighest 21% below ME	$56,938±$6kLowest 24% below ME
	Bethel and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$344,900±$37kHighest 16% above ME	$249,300±$70kLowest 16% below ME
	Bethel and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$864±$43Lowest 24% below ME	$885±$193Highest 22% below ME
	Harrison and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,835Highest 7% below ME	$2,731Lowest 10% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.3%±15.4Lowest ME: 48.4%	27.5%±24.4Highest ME: 48.4%
	Harrison and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%	19.1%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	90.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 5% above ME	31 minHighest 24% above ME
Work from home	27.7%±8.1Highest ME: 15.9%	22.3%±9.4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Bethel and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#49 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 44/MSAD 44	RSU 17/MSAD 17
High school in town	Telstar High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.