Compare towns
Solon vs Liberty 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).
Liberty has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Liberty | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 963 |
969Highest |
791Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
40.5±6.8Lowest 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% |
19.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Athens and Liberty 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% |
21.8%±2.8Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
43.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.7%Lowest 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±$20k 7% below ME |
$71,146±$15kHighest 5% below ME |
$50,750±$14kLowest 32% below ME |
| Liberty 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 |
$229,600±$31kHighest 23% below ME |
$153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $915±$100Highest 20% below ME |
$559±$193 51% below ME |
$538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,854 39% below ME |
$2,434Highest 20% below ME |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38.5%±42.4 ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Liberty 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% |
14.8% ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
38 min 56% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
14.4%±8.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Liberty 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 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | 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 |
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.