Compare towns
Harmony vs Solon vs Cherryfield 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 expensive homes ($203k median).
Solon has the highest household income ($69k).
Cherryfield has the most people working from home (18.2%).
Athens has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
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 | Solon | Cherryfield | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 974Highest |
963 |
809 |
791Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1% ME: +2.6% |
-6.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±2.5 18% above ME |
45.9±5.4Lowest about the ME average |
58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
| Cherryfield 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% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Athens and Solon 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% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
32.4%±9.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±2.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Cherryfield 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% |
25%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
17.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.6 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 |
$69,205±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
$37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
$50,750±$14k 32% below ME |
| Solon 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±$58kHighest 32% below ME |
$183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
$195,800±$53k 34% below ME |
$153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME |
| Harmony and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $915±$100Highest 20% below ME |
$428±$107Lowest 62% below ME |
$538±$457 53% below ME |
| Solon 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 |
$1,854 39% below ME |
$1,950Highest 36% below ME |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±100 ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Cherryfield 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% |
10.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
26.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
23.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 30% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.8%±8.2 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±10.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Cherryfield 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 74/MSAD 74 | Cherryfield 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.