What stands out worked out from the figures below

Prospect has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.6%).

Parsonsfield has the most expensive homes ($272k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Prospect	Parsonsfield
People
Population	923Lowest	1,715Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	-5.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	45.2±7.5Highest about the ME average	44.3±5.9Lowest about the ME average
	Prospect and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.2%±10.7Highest ME: 18.1%	25%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Prospect and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±1.7Highest ME: 22.4%	18%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Prospect and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.3%Highest ME: 36.2%	21.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±1Highest ME: 5.8%	1.1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Prospect and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,250±$17kHighest 9% above ME	$72,045±$18kLowest 4% below ME
	Prospect and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$196,500±$19kLowest 34% below ME	$272,100±$21kHighest 8% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,107±$61Lowest about the ME average	$1,185±$312Highest 4% above ME
	Parsonsfield and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,979Lowest 35% below ME	$2,350Highest 23% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.3%±42Lowest ME: 48.4%	78.2%±35Highest ME: 48.4%
	Parsonsfield and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%	12%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.8%Highest ME: 74.3%	86.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME	1977Lowest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 34% above ME	48 minHighest 97% above ME
Work from home	6.2%±3.3Highest ME: 15.9%	5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Prospect and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.