Compare towns
Appleton vs Athens vs Solon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Athens has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Solon has the highest household income ($69k).
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 | Appleton | Athens | Solon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
791Lowest |
963 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.6% ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
45.9±5.4Lowest about the ME average |
| Appleton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 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+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±2.7 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$50,750±$14kLowest 32% below ME |
$69,205±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
| Solon and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME |
$183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
$915±$100 20% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
$1,854 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Athens Public Schools | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.