Compare towns
Solon vs Phillips 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).
Phillips has the most people working from home (16.8%).
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 | Phillips | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 963 |
1,094Highest |
791Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1% ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-6.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4Lowest about the ME average |
49.7±3.7Highest 11% above ME |
47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
| Phillips and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Athens and Phillips 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% |
21.3%±2.1Lowest 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% |
20.7% ME: 36.2% |
17.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Phillips 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 |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% 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±$12k 38% below ME |
$190,800±$18kHighest 36% below ME |
$153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME |
| Phillips and Solon 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 |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
$538±$457 53% below ME |
| 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 39% below ME |
$2,582Highest 15% below ME |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Phillips 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% |
17.7% ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Phillips 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 58/MSAD 58 | 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.