Compare towns
Solon vs Appleton vs Prospect vs Athens
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Solon has the oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Prospect has the highest household income ($81k).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($153k 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 | Solon | Appleton | Prospect | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 963 |
1,360Highest |
923 |
791Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.6% ME: +2.6% |
-6.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
45.2±7.5Lowest about the ME average |
47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
| Appleton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.2%±10.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5 ME: 18.1% |
| Prospect and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±2.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.3% ME: 36.2% |
17.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$81,250±$17kHighest 9% above ME |
$50,750±$14kLowest 32% below ME |
| Prospect and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$196,500±$19k 34% below ME |
$153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME |
| Appleton and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $915±$100 20% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,107±$61Highest about the ME average |
$538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
| Prospect and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,854 39% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,979 35% below ME |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±42 ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.8% ME: 74.3% |
94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
33 min 34% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.2%±3.3 ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | Appleton Public Schools | — | Athens Public Schools |
| High school in town | None 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.