Compare towns
Solon vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Prospect
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Solon has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Prospect has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
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 | Solon | Appleton | Mapleton | Prospect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 963 |
1,360 |
1,884Highest |
923Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-1.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
45.2±7.5 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
25.2%±10.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Prospect and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.8%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$81,250±$17k 9% above ME |
| Mapleton and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,600±$12kLowest 38% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$196,500±$19k 34% below ME |
| Appleton and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $915±$100 20% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,107±$61Highest about the ME average |
| Prospect and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,854 39% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,979 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±42 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
33 min 34% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| 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.