Compare towns
Solon vs Freedom 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 most people working from home (9.1%).
Freedom has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.1%).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($153k 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 | Freedom | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 963Highest |
670Lowest |
791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
40.1±2.7Lowest 10% below ME |
47.7±7.2Highest 6% above ME |
| Athens and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5 ME: 18.1% |
| Freedom 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% |
22.1%±2.9Lowest 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% |
23.2% ME: 36.2% |
17.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±1.7Lowest 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 |
$64,861±$12k 13% below ME |
$50,750±$14kLowest 32% below ME |
| Solon and Freedom 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 |
$190,600±$69kHighest 36% below ME |
$153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME |
| Freedom and Solon 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 | $1,854 39% below ME |
$2,328Highest 23% below ME |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
21.1%±100 ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Freedom 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% |
11.5% ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Solon and Freedom 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.