Compare towns
Athens vs Exeter vs Lee vs Solon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
Solon has the most expensive homes ($184k median).
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 | Athens | Exeter | Lee | Solon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 791Lowest |
1,093Highest |
925 |
963 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
45.9±5.4Lowest about the ME average |
| Exeter and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±5 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 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+ | 24.4%±2.7 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6Lowest 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+ | 17.7% ME: 36.2% |
15% ME: 36.2% |
14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Lee and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $50,750±$14k 32% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
| Exeter and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$174,500±$25k 41% below ME |
$183,600±$12kHighest 38% below ME |
| Solon and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
$995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
— | $915±$100 20% below ME |
| Exeter and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
$1,602 47% below ME |
$1,547 49% below ME |
$1,854Highest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest 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 | 23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.5% ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.6% ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 18% above ME |
35 min 43% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Lee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Athens Public Schools | — | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | 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 | 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.