Compare towns
Solon vs Avon 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 most expensive homes ($184k median).
Avon has the most renters (21.3% rent).
Athens has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Avon | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 963Highest |
359Lowest |
791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | -6.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4Lowest about the ME average |
47.1±5.1 5% above ME |
47.7±7.2Highest 6% above ME |
| Athens and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±6.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
20.1%±4.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±2.7Highest 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+ | 25%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
17.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±4.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Athens and Avon 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 |
$63,125±$32k 16% below ME |
$50,750±$14kLowest 32% below ME |
| Solon and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,600±$12kHighest 38% below ME |
$141,700±$42kLowest 52% below ME |
$153,100±$33k 48% below ME |
| Solon and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $915±$100Highest 20% below ME |
$465±$30Lowest 59% below ME |
$538±$457 53% below ME |
| Solon and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,854Highest 39% below ME |
$1,469 52% below ME |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
90%±100 ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Avon 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% |
10.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
42 min 71% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±8.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Avon 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 | — | Athens Public Schools |
| 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.