Compare towns
Embden vs Jay 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 most people working from home (18.7%).
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Solon has the most expensive homes ($184k median).
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 | Jay | Solon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 995 |
4,657Highest |
963Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.8% ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Jay and Solon 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% |
19.3%±4.7Lowest 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% |
29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,875±$23kLowest 24% below ME |
$70,238±$19kHighest 6% below ME |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
| Jay and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $173,400±$59k 42% below ME |
$168,600±$27kLowest 43% below ME |
$183,600±$12kHighest 38% below ME |
| Solon and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $759±$141Lowest 33% below ME |
$915±$100Highest 20% below ME |
| Solon and Jay 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 |
$2,245Highest 26% below ME |
$1,854 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Jay and Solon 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% |
9.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 34% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Embden and Solon 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 | — | #86 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 73 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| High school in town | — | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.