Compare towns
Prospect vs Sidney vs Solon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Prospect has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
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 | Prospect | Sidney | Solon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 923Lowest |
4,790Highest |
963 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.6% ME: +2.6% |
+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.2±7.5 about the ME average |
43±5.5Lowest 4% below ME |
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 | 25.2%±10.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
23.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Prospect and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest 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+ | 22.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
33.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Prospect and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,250±$17k 9% above ME |
$83,488±$10kHighest 12% above ME |
$69,205±$20kLowest 7% below ME |
| Sidney and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,500±$19k 34% below ME |
$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$183,600±$12kLowest 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$61 about the ME average |
$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
$915±$100Lowest 20% below ME |
| Sidney and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,979 35% below ME |
$2,474Highest 19% below ME |
$1,854Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±42Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5 ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Prospect and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% ME: 74.3% |
89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
1996 19 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 34% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Sidney and Solon 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 | — | #15 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 18 | 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.