Compare towns
Solon vs Orland 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 youngest population (median age 45.9).
Orland has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).
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 | Orland | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 963 |
1,915Highest |
791Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4Lowest about the ME average |
50.6±4.2Highest 13% above ME |
47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
| Orland 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% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Athens and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±2.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Orland 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% |
31.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Orland 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±$20k 7% below ME |
$69,348±$29kHighest 7% below ME |
$50,750±$14kLowest 32% below ME |
| Orland 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 |
$277,100±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
$153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $915±$100 20% below ME |
$1,149±$177Highest about the ME average |
$538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
| Orland and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,854 39% below ME |
$2,089Highest 31% below ME |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.8 ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Orland 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% |
7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
87.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
40 min 62% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Orland 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 | — | Athens Public Schools |
| High school 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.