Compare towns
Solon vs Jay vs Athens
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Solon has the most renters (11.4% rent).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Jay | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 963Highest |
471Lowest |
791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4Lowest 18% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
47.7±7.2 23% above U.S. |
| Jay 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Athens and Jay 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 14% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$50,750±$14kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Jay 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 45% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$153,100±$33kLowest 54% below U.S. |
| Jay and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $915±$100Highest 35% below U.S. |
— | $538±$457Lowest 62% below U.S. |
| 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 41% below U.S. |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,355Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±75.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athens and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
23.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 98% above U.S. |
40 min 50% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | 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 |
U.S. 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.