Compare towns
Harmony vs Unity 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 population (median age 52.9).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Athens has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 974 |
1,858Highest |
791Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±2.5Highest 18% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
| Harmony and Athens 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% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Athens and Harmony 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% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±2.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Athens and Harmony 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% |
22.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,063±$13k 28% below ME |
$62,857±$6kHighest 16% below ME |
$50,750±$14kLowest 32% below ME |
| Unity 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 |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME |
| Unity and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $873±$73Highest 23% below ME |
$538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
| Unity 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 |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Unity 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% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
72.3% ME: 74.3% |
94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 30% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.8%±8.2 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Unity 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 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | Athens Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— |
| 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.