Compare towns
Athens vs Exeter vs Solon vs Starks
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 most kids (21.7% under 18).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
Solon has the most expensive homes ($184k median).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k 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 | Solon | Starks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 791 |
1,093Highest |
963 |
556Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1% ME: +2.6% |
-7.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
45.9±5.4Lowest about the ME average |
46.7±9.4 4% above ME |
| Exeter and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4 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+ | 24.4%±2.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Athens and Exeter 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Athens and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $50,750±$14kLowest 32% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
$63,500±$8k 15% 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±$33k 48% below ME |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$183,600±$12kHighest 38% below ME |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
| Solon and Exeter 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±$386 13% below ME |
$915±$100 20% below ME |
$1,063±$301Highest 7% below ME |
| Starks and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,355 55% below ME |
$1,602 47% below ME |
$1,854Highest 39% below ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Starks 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% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
19.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 18% above ME |
35 min 43% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
33 min 33% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.1%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Exeter and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Athens Public Schools | — | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | — |
| High school 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.