Compare towns
Solon vs Buckfield vs Bingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buckfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
Bingham has the most affordable homes ($103k 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 | Buckfield | Bingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 963 |
2,403Highest |
660Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
37.7±10.1Lowest 16% below ME |
56±8.2Highest 25% above ME |
| Bingham and Solon 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% |
25.7%±7.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±6.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Buckfield and Solon 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% |
13.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
38.3%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25% ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Bingham and Buckfield 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 |
$77,917±$41kHighest 4% above ME |
$42,708±$22kLowest 43% below ME |
| Buckfield 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 |
$227,700±$18kHighest 23% below ME |
$103,000±$26kLowest 65% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $915±$100Highest 20% below ME |
$521±$33 54% below ME |
$354±$264Lowest 69% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,854 39% below ME |
$2,860Highest 6% below ME |
$1,059Lowest 65% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8 ME: 48.4% |
0%±55Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±45.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Bingham and Solon 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% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
31 min 25% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±12.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Buckfield 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 | RSU 10 | RSU 83/MSAD 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | Buckfield Jr-Sr High School | Upper Kennebec Valley Middle/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.2Highest |
7.3Lowest |
| 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.