Compare towns
Solon vs Harmony 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
Solon has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Harmony has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
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 | Harmony | Prospect | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 963 |
974 |
923Lowest |
4,782Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1% ME: +2.6% |
-12.1%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 |
52.9±2.5Highest 18% above ME |
45.2±7.5Lowest about the ME average |
49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
| Harmony 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% |
16.4%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
25.2%±10.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.9%±4.3Lowest 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% |
22.9%±2.5 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% |
21.1%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% |
2.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1 ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Madison and Harmony 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 |
$54,063±$13kLowest 28% below ME |
$81,250±$17kHighest 9% above ME |
$61,747±$11k 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 | $183,600±$12kLowest 38% below ME |
$202,700±$58kHighest 32% below ME |
$196,500±$19k 34% below ME |
$187,600±$40k 37% below ME |
| Harmony 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 |
— | $1,107±$61Highest about the ME average |
$906±$247Lowest 20% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,854 39% below ME |
$1,449Lowest 52% 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% |
43.5%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±42 ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Harmony 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% |
15.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
67.8% ME: 74.3% |
88.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1973 4 yrs older 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 |
32 min 30% above ME |
33 min 34% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
14.8%±8.2 ME: 15.9% |
6.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | Harmony Public Schools | — | RSU 59/MSAD 59 |
| High school in town | None 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.