Compare towns
Solon vs Appleton vs Washburn
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 highest household income ($69k).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k 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 | Washburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 963Lowest |
1,360Highest |
1,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4Lowest about the ME average |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
48.2±7.7 8% above ME |
| Appleton and Washburn 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% |
21.7%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Washburn and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
24%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,205±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$56,196±$6k 25% below ME |
| Solon and Washburn 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 |
$112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $915±$100 20% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,854 39% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,571Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±24.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Washburn 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%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Washburn 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 | RSU 45/MSAD 45 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Washburn District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0 |
| 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.