Compare towns
Harmony vs Milbridge 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 most renters (32.2% rent).
Milbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
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 | Milbridge | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 974 |
1,222Highest |
791Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±2.5Highest 18% above ME |
50.3±6.2 12% above ME |
47.7±7.2Lowest 6% above ME |
| Harmony and Milbridge 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% |
22.5%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5 ME: 18.1% |
| Milbridge and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.2%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±2.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Milbridge and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.1% ME: 36.2% |
24.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$60,536±$16kHighest 19% below ME |
$50,750±$14kLowest 32% below ME |
| Milbridge and Harmony 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 |
$240,400±$31kHighest 19% below ME |
$153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME |
| Milbridge and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $619±$186Highest 46% below ME |
$538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
| Milbridge and Athens 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 |
$2,022Highest 33% below ME |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.8%±22.6 ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Milbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.4% ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.1% ME: 74.3% |
94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 30% above ME |
18 minLowest 26% below ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.8%±8.2 ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Milbridge 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 37/MSAD 37 | Athens 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.