Compare towns
Solon vs Washington vs Athens
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 most renters (11.4% rent).
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Athens has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
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 | Washington | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 963 |
1,208Highest |
791Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4Lowest 18% above U.S. |
55±4.7Highest 41% above U.S. |
47.7±7.2 23% above U.S. |
| Washington 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 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
32%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington 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±$20k 14% below U.S. |
$89,453±$12kHighest 11% above U.S. |
$50,750±$14kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Washington 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. |
$358,600±$32kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$153,100±$33kLowest 54% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $915±$100 35% below U.S. |
$1,106±$160Highest 22% below U.S. |
$538±$457Lowest 62% below U.S. |
| Washington and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,854 41% below U.S. |
$4,321Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,355Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±75.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athens 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% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
23.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 98% above U.S. |
36 min 34% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington 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 | Washington School District | 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 |
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.