Compare towns
Harmony vs Mapleton vs Penobscot vs Parkman
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 most renters (32.2% rent).
Mapleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).
Penobscot has the most expensive homes ($296k median).
Parkman has the most affordable homes ($169k 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 | Mapleton | Penobscot | Parkman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 974 |
1,884Highest |
1,154 |
896Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1% ME: +2.6% |
-11.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±2.5 18% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
51.7±5.6 15% above ME |
| Penobscot and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±5.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6 ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Parkman 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.9%±5.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.4% ME: 36.2% |
21.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9 ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton 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±$13kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$63,194±$14k 15% below ME |
$54,231±$21k 27% below ME |
| Mapleton and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $202,700±$58k 32% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
$168,900±$25kLowest 43% below ME |
| Penobscot and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,141±$33Highest about the ME average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,449Lowest 52% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,852 39% below ME |
$2,000Highest 34% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±100 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
4.4%±42.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot and Harmony 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% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
76% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 30% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.8%±8.2 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.7%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Penobscot 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Penobscot 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 | 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.