Compare towns
Brooklin vs Solon vs Beals
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.4%).
Solon has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Beals has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Brooklin | Solon | Beals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 869 |
963Highest |
498Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1% ME: +2.6% |
-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±3.7Highest 10% above ME |
45.9±5.4Lowest about the ME average |
48±15.6 7% above ME |
| Brooklin and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.1%±6.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Solon and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.1%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Beals and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
37.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±5.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Brooklin and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,750±$8k 8% below ME |
$69,205±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
$64,063±$14kLowest 14% below ME |
| Solon and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,400±$90kHighest 14% above ME |
$183,600±$12kLowest 38% below ME |
$256,700±$45k 13% below ME |
| Brooklin and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,236±$137Highest 9% above ME |
$915±$100 20% below ME |
$907±$378Lowest 20% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,792Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,854 39% below ME |
$2,580Highest 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.5%±25Highest ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8 ME: 48.4% |
7.4%±71.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Brooklin and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
10.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.4% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
21 minLowest 17% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.5%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±10.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Beals and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Brooklin Public Schools | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | Beals 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 |
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.