Compare towns
Lee vs Limestone vs Athens
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
Limestone has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Athens has the highest household income ($51k).
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 | Lee | Limestone | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 925 |
1,579Highest |
791Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-34.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-6.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5Highest 15% above ME |
45.3±4.9Lowest about the ME average |
47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
| Lee and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5 ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±2.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Lee and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
20.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
9.5%±4.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Limestone and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$49,938±$8k 33% below ME |
$50,750±$14kHighest 32% below ME |
| Athens and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $174,500±$25kHighest 41% below ME |
$98,400±$18kLowest 67% below ME |
$153,100±$33k 48% below ME |
| Lee and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $754±$233Highest 34% below ME |
$538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
| Limestone and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,547Highest 49% below ME |
$1,332Lowest 56% below ME |
$1,355 55% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
32%±12.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.5% ME: 10.7% |
16.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
61.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±5.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Limestone and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics · Limestone Public Schools | Athens Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— |
| 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.