Compare towns
Solon vs Sumner vs Athens vs Sullivan
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).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Athens has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Sullivan has the most expensive homes ($222k 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 | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 963 |
845 |
791Lowest |
1,246Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.6% ME: +2.6% |
-1.4% 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 |
47.1±15 5% above ME |
| Sumner 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% |
17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Athens and Sullivan 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% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±2.7 ME: 22.4% |
22.5%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner 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% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
17.7% ME: 36.2% |
26%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Sullivan 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 |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$50,750±$14kLowest 32% below ME |
$59,643±$14k 20% below ME |
| Solon and Sullivan 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 |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$153,100±$33k 48% below ME |
$222,000±$33kHighest 25% below ME |
| Sullivan 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 |
— | $538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
$883±$114 22% below ME |
| Solon and Sullivan 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 |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
$2,228Highest 27% 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% |
34.9%±23.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 10.7% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
42 min 72% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% 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% |
12.6%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Sullivan 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 24 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Sumner Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.5 |
| 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.