Compare towns
Solon vs Peru 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 renters (11.4% rent).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k median).
Prospect has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.6%).
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 | Peru | Prospect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 963 |
1,501Highest |
923Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4% ME: +2.6% |
-1.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
48±7.6Highest 7% above ME |
45.2±7.5Lowest about the ME average |
| Peru and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
25.2%±10.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Prospect and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
19.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Solon and Peru 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% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1 ME: 5.8% |
| Peru 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±$20k 7% below ME |
$66,827±$19kLowest 11% below ME |
$81,250±$17kHighest 9% above 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±$12k 38% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$196,500±$19kHighest 34% below ME |
| Prospect and Solon 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 |
$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
$1,107±$61Highest about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,854 39% below ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,979Highest 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±42Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Prospect and Peru 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% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
33 min 34% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Peru 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 | RSU 56 | — |
| High school in town | None 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.