Compare towns
Solon vs Limestone 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 highest household income ($69k).
Limestone has the most people working from home (14.5%).
Athens has grown the fastest since 2010 (-6.6%).
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 | Limestone | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 963 |
1,579Highest |
791Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1% ME: +2.6% |
-34.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-6.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
45.3±4.9Lowest about the ME average |
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% |
20.7%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Athens and Limestone 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% |
21.7%±3.6Lowest 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% |
20.3% ME: 36.2% |
17.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
9.5%±4.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Limestone and Athens 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 |
$49,938±$8kLowest 33% below ME |
$50,750±$14k 32% below ME |
| Solon and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,600±$12kHighest 38% below ME |
$98,400±$18kLowest 67% below ME |
$153,100±$33k 48% below ME |
| Solon and Athens 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 |
$754±$233 34% below ME |
$538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
| Solon and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,854Highest 39% below ME |
$1,332Lowest 56% below ME |
$1,355 55% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
32%±12.4 ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Limestone 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% |
16.4% ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
61.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±5.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Limestone 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 | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics · Limestone Public Schools | Athens Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
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| 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.