What stands out worked out from the figures below

Harmony has the most affordable homes ($203k median).

Penobscot has the most expensive homes ($296k 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	Harmony	Penobscot
People
Population	974Lowest	1,154Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-10.1%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	52.9±2.5Lowest 18% above ME	53.4±5.7Highest 19% 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%	18%±6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Penobscot and Harmony 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%	32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%	32.4%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8%	1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Harmony and Penobscot 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	$63,194±$14kHighest 15% below ME
	Penobscot 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±$58kLowest 32% below ME	$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average
	Penobscot and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,141±$33 about the ME average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,449Lowest 52% below ME	$1,852Highest 39% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.5%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%	73.9%±100Highest 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%Lowest ME: 10.7%	16%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	84.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME	1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 30% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	14.8%±8.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	17.7%±13.5Highest 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	Penobscot Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.