Compare towns
Solon vs Hope vs Bingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Bingham has the most affordable homes ($103k 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 | Hope | Bingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 963 |
1,748Highest |
660Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average |
56±8.2Highest 25% above ME |
| Bingham and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±6.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hope 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% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
38.3%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Bingham and Hope 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 |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$42,708±$22kLowest 43% below ME |
| Hope 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 |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$103,000±$26kLowest 65% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $915±$100 20% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$354±$264Lowest 69% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,854 39% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,059Lowest 65% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±45.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Hope and Bingham 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% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hope 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 | Hope Public Schools | RSU 83/MSAD 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Upper Kennebec Valley Middle/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.3 |
| 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.