Compare towns
Blaine vs Mapleton vs Solon vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Blaine has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Mapleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 48.8).
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 | Blaine | Mapleton | Solon | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 706 |
1,884Highest |
963 |
484Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.1% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1% ME: +2.6% |
-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±17 3% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
48.8±8Highest 9% above ME |
| Bridgewater and Blaine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±6.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Blaine and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±7.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bridgewater and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
18.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±3.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Blaine and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,707±$24k 8% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
$65,417±$15kLowest 12% below ME |
| Mapleton and Blaine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | — | $191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
$154,900±$78kLowest 48% below ME |
| Mapleton and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $691±$303 39% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$915±$100Highest 20% below ME |
$768±$116 33% below ME |
| Solon and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,804 41% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,854Highest 39% below ME |
$1,417Lowest 53% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38.9%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Blaine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1978Highest 1 yr newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 24% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
22 min 10% below ME |
| Work from home | 6.5%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±5.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.