Compare towns
Solon vs Dixmont 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 youngest population (median age 45.9).
Dixmont has the most people working from home (21.9%).
Athens has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
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 | Dixmont | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 963 |
1,207Highest |
791Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4Lowest about the ME average |
50.9±4.7Highest 14% above ME |
47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
| Dixmont 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% |
15.9%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Athens 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% |
19.4%±4.7Lowest 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% |
24.7% ME: 36.2% |
17.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Dixmont 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 |
$75,952±$14kHighest about the ME average |
$50,750±$14kLowest 32% below ME |
| Dixmont 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 |
$190,700±$22kHighest 36% below ME |
$153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME |
| Dixmont and Solon 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 |
$1,348±$62Highest 18% above ME |
$538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,854Highest 39% below ME |
$1,548 49% below ME |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.2%±70.1 ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Dixmont 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% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.7% ME: 74.3% |
94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
35 min 40% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±11.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Dixmont 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 19 | 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 |
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.