Compare towns
Perry vs Smithfield vs Solon
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).
Smithfield has the highest household income ($108k).
Solon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-7.1%).
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 | Smithfield | Solon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 744Lowest |
856 |
963Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.8% ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±11.4Lowest about the ME average |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Perry and Solon 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% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Smithfield and Solon 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% |
34.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Smithfield 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±$4k 10% above ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$69,205±$20kLowest 7% below ME |
| Smithfield and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,400±$13k 34% below ME |
$242,800±$15kHighest 18% below ME |
$183,600±$12kLowest 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,109±$358Highest about the ME average |
$915±$100Lowest 20% below ME |
| Smithfield and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,132Highest 3% above ME |
$2,866 6% below ME |
$1,854Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Smithfield 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% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
10.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 6% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
| Work from home | 23.4%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Perry and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Perry 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.