Compare towns
Prospect vs Solon vs Bucksport
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).
Solon has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Bucksport has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Solon | Bucksport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 923Lowest |
963 |
3,105Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.2±7.5Lowest about the ME average |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
53.6±9.8Highest 20% above ME |
| Bucksport and Solon 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% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
15.9%±6.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Prospect and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
33.5%±10.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bucksport and Solon 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% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
29.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Prospect and Solon 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 |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
$62,011±$4kLowest 17% below ME |
| Prospect and Solon 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 |
$183,600±$12kLowest 38% below ME |
$214,300±$71kHighest 28% below ME |
| Bucksport and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$61Highest about the ME average |
$915±$100 20% below ME |
$855±$77Lowest 25% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,979Highest 35% below ME |
$1,854 39% below ME |
$1,801Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±42 ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
58%±54Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Bucksport and Prospect 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% |
10.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
68.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 34% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Bucksport 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 | — | — | #68 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | — |
| High school 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.