Compare towns
Solon vs Orland 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).
Orland has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).
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 | Orland | Prospect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 963 |
1,915Highest |
923Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
50.6±4.2Highest 13% above ME |
45.2±7.5Lowest about the ME average |
| Orland 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% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.2%±10.7Highest 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% |
27.5%±2Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Orland 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% |
31.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1 ME: 5.8% |
| Orland and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,205±$20kLowest 7% below ME |
$69,348±$29k 7% below ME |
$81,250±$17kHighest 9% above ME |
| Prospect and Orland 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 |
$277,100±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
$196,500±$19k 34% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $915±$100Lowest 20% below ME |
$1,149±$177Highest about the ME average |
$1,107±$61 about the ME average |
| Orland and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,854Lowest 39% below ME |
$2,089Highest 31% below ME |
$1,979 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±42 ME: 48.4% |
| Orland 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% |
7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
87.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
40 min 62% above ME |
33 minLowest 34% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Orland and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| 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.