What stands out worked out from the figures below

Solon has the most affordable homes ($184k median).

Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Solon	Cushing
People
Population	963Lowest	1,460Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-2.1%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	45.9±5.4Lowest about the ME average	48.8±7.7Highest 9% above ME
	Cushing and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.2%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1%	17.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Solon and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.9%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4%	20.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Solon and Cushing 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%	38.4%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.4%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Cushing and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,205±$20kLowest 7% below ME	$83,500±$19kHighest 12% above ME
	Cushing 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±$12kLowest 38% below ME	$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$915±$100Lowest 20% below ME	$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,854Lowest 39% below ME	$3,944Highest 30% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	33.7%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4%
	Cushing and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Highest ME: 10.7%	7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	84.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME	1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	52 minHighest 113% above ME	23 minLowest 5% below ME
Work from home	9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9%
	Cushing 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 13
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.