Compare towns
Harmony vs Eustis vs Hope vs Athens
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harmony has the oldest housing (typical home built 1973).
Eustis has the shortest commute (12 min average).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($153k 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 | Harmony | Eustis | Hope | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 974 |
453Lowest |
1,748Highest |
791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.7% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±2.5 18% above ME |
59.1±14Highest 32% above ME |
44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average |
47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
| Eustis and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
15.5%±13.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5 ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
38.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±2.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.1% ME: 36.2% |
13%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±4.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5Highest 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 | $54,063±$13k 28% below ME |
$32,118±$11kLowest 57% below ME |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$50,750±$14k 32% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $202,700±$58k 32% below ME |
$262,200±$51k 12% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $916±$547 20% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
| Hope and Eustis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,449 52% below ME |
$1,542 49% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±100 ME: 48.4% |
66%±37.8 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Eustis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.8% ME: 10.7% |
23% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% ME: 74.3% |
61.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9% ME: 74.3% |
94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1975 2 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 30% above ME |
12 minLowest 52% below ME |
20 min 19% below ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.8%±8.2 ME: 15.9% |
12.5%±6.6 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest 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 | Harmony Public Schools | Eustis Public Schools | Hope Public Schools | Athens 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.