Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
23% of residents live below the poverty line in Athens, against 9% in Maine’s towns and 9.6% across U.S. towns. Among 144 Maine towns, just 4 have a lower median household income than Athens. Somerset Academy is on the National Register of Historic Places. Athens has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Athens beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 374 in 1810, a peak of 1,540 in 1870, 952 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2022 and 4 maps from 1913 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Athens, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
Ordered by what stands out in Athens.
Most working residents leave Athens for work: only 12% work in town. At 29 minutes, Athens’ average trip to work is where Maine’s towns sit at 25 minutes and U.S. towns at 25 minutes. The top destinations are Skowhegan (13%), Bangor (6%) and Pittsfield (5%).
| Athens | Maine towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 29 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 12% | 12% | 8% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Its public schools are run by the Athens Public Schools. Its one school is below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athens Community SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–8 | Grades PK–8 | 105 | A |
NCES · EDFacts
Athens has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. Athens’ July high is 78°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
21% of adults smoke cigarettes in Athens. Only 1 of the 144 Maine towns we compare have a higher share of adults who sleep under 7 hours than Athens. 29% of adults get no exercise outside work in Athens.
| Athens | Maine towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 15% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 14% | 14% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 33% | 36% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 11% | 12% |
| What stands out | Athens | ME |
|---|---|---|
| More smokers | 21.1% | 14.4% |
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 10.7% | 7.4% |
| More adults with COPD | 12.1% | 8.4% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 51% of U.S. communities. One flood insurance claim has been paid in Athens since 1983.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
18 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Athens Community Park | — | 10 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of Athens; the nearest are
About 4 of every 100 Athens residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Maine.
Where Athens’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
Town in Maine, United States
Athens is a town in Somerset County, Maine, United States. The population was 952 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Athens has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
