Compare towns
Solon vs Sheldon vs Burnham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Solon has the oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.5%).
Burnham has the most people working from home (17%).
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 | Sheldon | Burnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 963 |
2,267Highest |
953Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4 18% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48.4±3.2Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Burnham and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Solon and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Burnham and Sheldon 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 14% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$59,261±$18kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Sheldon 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 45% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$178,100±$43kLowest 46% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $915±$100Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,308±$386Highest 7% below U.S. |
| Burnham and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,854Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$3,578Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,897 39% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.9%±49Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Burnham and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 98% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±10.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Burnham and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.