Compare towns
Solon vs Exeter vs Prospect 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
Exeter has the most people working from home (10.3%).
Prospect has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.6%).
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 | Exeter | Prospect | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 963 |
1,093Highest |
923 |
791Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
45.2±7.5Lowest about the ME average |
47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
| Exeter 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% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.2%±10.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5 ME: 18.1% |
| Prospect and Athens 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% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
19.8%±1.7Lowest 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% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.3% ME: 36.2% |
17.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Athens and Exeter 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 |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$81,250±$17k 9% above ME |
$50,750±$14kLowest 32% below ME |
| Exeter and Prospect 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 |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$196,500±$19kHighest 34% below ME |
$153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME |
| Prospect 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 |
$995±$386 13% below ME |
$1,107±$61Highest about the ME average |
$538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
| Prospect and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,854 39% below ME |
$1,602 47% below ME |
$1,979Highest 35% below ME |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±42 ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Exeter 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% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
88.8% ME: 74.3% |
94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
35 min 43% above ME |
33 min 34% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.2%±3.3 ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Exeter 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 | 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.