Compare towns
Solon vs Unity vs Athens vs Madison
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).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Athens has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Madison has the most renters (45.4% rent).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Athens | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 963 |
1,858 |
791Lowest |
4,782Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.6% ME: +2.6% |
-2.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
| Madison 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%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.9%±4.3 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%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±2.7 ME: 22.4% |
25.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Madison 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
17.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,205±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$50,750±$14kLowest 32% below ME |
$61,747±$11k 17% below ME |
| Solon and Unity 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 |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME |
$187,600±$40k 37% below ME |
| Unity and Madison 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 |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
$906±$247 20% below ME |
| Solon and Madison 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 |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
$1,983 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Unity 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% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
15% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
72.3% ME: 74.3% |
94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Unity 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 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | Athens Public Schools | RSU 59/MSAD 59 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
| 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.