Compare towns
Burnham vs Penobscot vs Solon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burnham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-5.8%).
Penobscot has the most expensive homes ($296k median).
Solon has the highest household income ($69k).
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 | Burnham | Penobscot | Solon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 953Lowest |
1,154Highest |
963 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.4±3.2 8% above ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
45.9±5.4Lowest about the ME average |
| Penobscot and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Penobscot and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Penobscot and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
32.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Burnham and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,261±$18kLowest 21% below ME |
$63,194±$14k 15% below ME |
$69,205±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
| Solon and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $178,100±$43kLowest 40% below ME |
$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
$183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,308±$386Highest 15% above ME |
$1,141±$33 about the ME average |
$915±$100Lowest 20% below ME |
| Burnham and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,897Highest 38% below ME |
$1,852Lowest 39% below ME |
$1,854 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.9%±49 ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 13% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
| Work from home | 17%±10.9 ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Penobscot and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Penobscot Public Schools | 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 |
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.