Compare towns
Solon vs Sumner vs Athens vs Bingham
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 most expensive homes ($184k median).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Athens has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Bingham has the most affordable homes ($103k 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 | Sumner | Athens | Bingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 963Highest |
845 |
791 |
660Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.6% ME: +2.6% |
-6.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4Lowest about the ME average |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
56±8.2 25% above ME |
| Sumner and Bingham 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% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±6.8Lowest 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% |
29.7%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±2.7 ME: 22.4% |
38.3%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bingham and Sumner 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% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
17.7% ME: 36.2% |
22.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Athens and Bingham 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 |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$50,750±$14k 32% below ME |
$42,708±$22kLowest 43% below ME |
| Solon and Sumner 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 |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
$153,100±$33k 48% below ME |
$103,000±$26kLowest 65% 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 |
— | $538±$457 53% below ME |
$354±$264Lowest 69% 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 |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,355 55% below ME |
$1,059Lowest 65% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±45.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 10.7% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
16.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
42 min 72% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±6 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner 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 10 | Athens Public Schools | RSU 83/MSAD 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Upper Kennebec Valley Middle/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.3 |
| 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.