Compare towns
Mapleton vs Solon vs Penobscot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).
Solon has the most homeowners (88.6%).
Penobscot has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Mapleton | Solon | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,884Highest |
963Lowest |
1,154 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
| Penobscot and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest 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+ | 34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
32.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME |
| Mapleton and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$183,600±$12kLowest 38% below ME |
$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$915±$100 20% below ME |
$1,141±$33Highest about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,854Highest 39% below ME |
$1,852 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Penobscot and Mapleton 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 | Penobscot 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.