Compare towns
Solon vs Embden 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 highest household income ($69k).
Embden has the most people working from home (18.7%).
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 | Embden | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 963 |
995Highest |
791Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4Lowest about the ME average |
60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.5Lowest 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%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±2.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Embden and Athens 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% |
16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
17.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Athens 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±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
$56,875±$23k 24% below ME |
$50,750±$14kLowest 32% below ME |
| Solon and Embden 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 |
$173,400±$59k 42% below ME |
$153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME |
| Solon and Embden 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 |
— | $538±$457Lowest 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 |
$1,804 41% below ME |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.2% ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
94.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
33 min 34% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Embden 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.