Compare towns
Athens vs Palmyra 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 homeowners (94.6%).
Palmyra has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
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 | Palmyra | Solon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 791Lowest |
2,209Highest |
963 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6% ME: +2.6% |
-3.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.7±7.2Highest 6% above ME |
37.1±4.8Lowest 17% below ME |
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%±5 ME: 18.1% |
29.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Palmyra and Athens 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% |
16.7%±5.3Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Palmyra 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 |
$60,543±$17k 19% below ME |
$69,205±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
| Solon and Palmyra 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 |
$154,900±$34k 48% below ME |
$183,600±$12kHighest 38% below ME |
| Solon and Palmyra 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 |
$733±$119 36% below ME |
$915±$100Highest 20% below ME |
| Solon and Palmyra 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 |
$1,614 47% below ME |
$1,854Highest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
47.2%±14.9 ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Palmyra 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% |
9.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Solon and Palmyra 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.