Compare towns
Perry vs Augusta vs Solon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Perry has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Augusta has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.2%).
Solon has the most affordable 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 | Perry | Augusta | Solon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 744Lowest |
19,077Highest |
963 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±11.4 about the ME average |
42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME |
45.9±5.4Highest about the ME average |
| Solon and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Perry and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±6.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Solon and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.9% ME: 36.2% |
25%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Augusta and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,056±$4kHighest 10% above ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
| Perry and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,400±$13k 34% below ME |
$201,000±$18kHighest 32% below ME |
$183,600±$12kLowest 38% below ME |
| Augusta and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $919±$79Highest 19% below ME |
$915±$100Lowest 20% below ME |
| Augusta and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,132Highest 3% above ME |
$2,465 19% below ME |
$1,854Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Augusta and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 6% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
| Work from home | 23.4%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Perry and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #119 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Perry Public Schools | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| High school in town | None in town | Cony | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 17.9 |
— |
| 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.