Compare towns
Jackson vs Prospect vs Solon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Prospect has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Solon has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
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 | Jackson | Prospect | Solon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567Lowest |
923 |
963Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.6% ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
45.2±7.5 about the ME average |
45.9±5.4Highest about the ME average |
| Solon and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.2%±10.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Prospect and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.8%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Solon and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Prospect and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,167±$19k about the ME average |
$81,250±$17kHighest 9% above ME |
$69,205±$20kLowest 7% below ME |
| Prospect and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,500±$16kHighest 22% below ME |
$196,500±$19k 34% below ME |
$183,600±$12kLowest 38% below ME |
| Jackson and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,107±$61Highest about the ME average |
$915±$100 20% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$1,979 35% below ME |
$1,854Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±42Highest ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Prospect and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993 16 yrs newer than ME |
1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
33 minLowest 34% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Jackson 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 |
| High school 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.