Compare towns
Solon vs Exeter vs Prospect vs Madison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Prospect has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Madison has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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 | Exeter | Prospect | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 963 |
1,093 |
923Lowest |
4,782Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
45.2±7.5Lowest about the ME average |
49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
| Exeter and Madison 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% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.2%±10.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.9%±4.3 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+ | 23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
19.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Madison 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.3% ME: 36.2% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1 ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Madison and Exeter 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 |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$81,250±$17k 9% above ME |
$61,747±$11kLowest 17% below ME |
| Exeter 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±$12k 38% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$196,500±$19kHighest 34% below ME |
$187,600±$40k 37% below ME |
| Prospect and Madison 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 |
$995±$386 13% below ME |
$1,107±$61Highest about the ME average |
$906±$247Lowest 20% below ME |
| Prospect and Exeter 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 |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$1,979 35% below ME |
$1,983Highest 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±42 ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Exeter and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.8% ME: 74.3% |
54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
35 min 43% above ME |
33 min 34% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
6.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | — | — | RSU 59/MSAD 59 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | Madison Jr/Sr High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.