Compare towns
Bingham vs Chatham vs Solon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bingham has the most affordable homes ($103k median).
Chatham has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Solon has the youngest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Bingham | Chatham | Solon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 660 |
430Lowest |
963Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -7.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±8.2Highest 44% above U.S. |
48.3±8.6 24% above U.S. |
45.9±5.4Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Bingham and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Chatham and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 38.3%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±10 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bingham and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chatham and Bingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $42,708±$22kLowest 47% below U.S. |
$66,042±$19k 18% below U.S. |
$69,205±$20kHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Solon and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $103,000±$26kLowest 69% below U.S. |
$362,900±$42kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$183,600±$12k 45% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $354±$264Lowest 75% below U.S. |
— | $915±$100Highest 35% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,059Lowest 66% below U.S. |
$3,690Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,854 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±45.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 16.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
36 min 35% above U.S. |
52 minHighest 98% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.8%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Solon and Bingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 83/MSAD 13 | — | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| High school in town | Upper Kennebec Valley Middle/Senior High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.