Compare towns
Solon vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs Athens
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Mapleton | Appleton | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 963 |
1,884Highest |
1,360 |
791Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
| Appleton 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 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±2.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Athens 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
17.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Appleton 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$50,750±$14kLowest 32% below ME |
| Mapleton 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 |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME |
| Appleton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $915±$100 20% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,854 39% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Appleton 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% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Mapleton 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 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | Athens Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.