Compare towns
Perry vs Appleton vs Solon vs Mercer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Perry has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Solon has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Mercer has the youngest population (median age 43.4).
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 | Perry | Appleton | Solon | Mercer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 744 |
1,360Highest |
963 |
718Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1% ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±11.4 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME |
| Appleton and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
20.1%±6.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Perry and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21%±6.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
25.9%±5.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,056±$4kHighest 10% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
$71,107±$2k 5% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,400±$13k 34% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$183,600±$12kLowest 38% below ME |
$238,500±$32kHighest 20% below ME |
| Mercer and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$915±$100Lowest 20% below ME |
$1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME |
| Mercer and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,132 3% above ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,854Lowest 39% below ME |
$1,970 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
18.5%±74 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
92.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 6% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 23.4%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.5%±8.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Perry and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Perry Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | — |
| 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 | 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.