Compare towns
Jefferson 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
Jefferson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Prospect has the most homeowners (88.8%).
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 | Jefferson | Prospect | Solon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,647Highest |
923Lowest |
963 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.6% ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 38.1±4.9Lowest 15% 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 | 28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
25.2%±10.7 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.5Lowest 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+ | 27.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Jefferson and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,078±$17kHighest 14% above ME |
$81,250±$17k 9% above ME |
$69,205±$20kLowest 7% below ME |
| Jefferson and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME |
$196,500±$19k 34% below ME |
$183,600±$12kLowest 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$130Highest about the ME average |
$1,107±$61 about the ME average |
$915±$100Lowest 20% below ME |
| Jefferson and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,587Highest 15% below ME |
$1,979 35% below ME |
$1,854Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±42Highest ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Prospect and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
10.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
33 min 34% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.9%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
6.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Solon and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #45 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Jefferson 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.