Compare towns
Athens vs Newburgh 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 most affordable homes ($153k median).
Newburgh has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Solon has the most people working from home (9.1%).
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 | Newburgh | Solon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 791Lowest |
1,475Highest |
963 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6% ME: +2.6% |
+2.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.7±7.2Highest 6% above ME |
45.8±5.7Lowest about the ME average |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
| Athens and Solon 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% |
18.8%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Athens and Newburgh 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% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Athens and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Newburgh 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±$14kLowest 32% below ME |
$76,750±$10kHighest about the ME average |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
| Newburgh 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 |
$244,600±$20kHighest 18% below ME |
$183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
$950±$219Highest 17% below ME |
$915±$100 20% below ME |
| Newburgh 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 |
$2,748Highest 9% below ME |
$1,854 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Newburgh 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% |
11.7% ME: 10.7% |
10.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 18% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±3.3 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Solon and Newburgh 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 |
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.