Compare towns
Durham vs Embden vs Solon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Embden has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
Solon has the most renters (11.4% rent).
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 | Durham | Embden | Solon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262Highest |
995 |
963Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.9% ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9Lowest 5% below ME |
60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Durham and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Embden and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Durham and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$56,875±$23kLowest 24% below ME |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME |
$173,400±$59kLowest 42% below ME |
$183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $915±$100 20% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$1,804Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,854 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Durham and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4% ME: 74.3% |
96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 13% above ME |
33 min 34% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.7%±7.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Durham and Embden 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 | #14 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 05 | — | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| 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.