Compare towns
Embden vs Gorham vs Gray vs Solon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Embden has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Solon has the oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
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 | Embden | Gorham | Gray | Solon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 995 |
18,300Highest |
8,429 |
963Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.5% ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
43.4±4.5 3% below ME |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
19%±4 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4 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+ | 16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
44.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,875±$23kLowest 24% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$95,236±$8k 27% above ME |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $173,400±$59kLowest 42% below ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$363,700±$20k 23% above ME |
$183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,371±$89 20% above ME |
$915±$100Lowest 20% below ME |
| Gorham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,804Lowest 41% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$3,683 21% above ME |
$1,854 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±24Highest ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Gray and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7% ME: 10.7% |
3.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.4% ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 34% above ME |
27 minLowest 10% above ME |
29 min 16% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.5 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham 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 | — | #24 of 133 in ME | #10 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| High school in town | — | Gorham High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
12.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.