Compare towns
Solon vs Gorham vs Madison 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).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Madison has the most renters (45.4% rent).
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 | Gorham | Madison | Prospect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 963 |
18,300Highest |
4,782 |
923Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.7% ME: +2.6% |
-1.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
45.2±7.5 about the ME average |
| Madison 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% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
14.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.2%±10.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Prospect and Gorham 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% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.8%±1.7 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% ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$61,747±$11kLowest 17% below ME |
$81,250±$17k 9% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,600±$12kLowest 38% below ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$187,600±$40k 37% below ME |
$196,500±$19k 34% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $915±$100 20% below ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$906±$247Lowest 20% below ME |
$1,107±$61 about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,854Lowest 39% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$1,983 35% below ME |
$1,979 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±42 ME: 48.4% |
| Gorham 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% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
54.6%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 |
1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
33 min 34% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Gorham 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 | — | #24 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Madison Jr/Sr High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
10.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.