Compare towns
Embden vs Mapleton vs Searsmont 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).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Searsmont has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).
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 | Embden | Mapleton | Searsmont | Solon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 995 |
1,884Highest |
1,646 |
963Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+0.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
44.5±9.8 about the ME average |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21%±1.3 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.6% ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Searsmont and Mapleton 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$87,000±$20k 16% above ME |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
| Mapleton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $173,400±$59kLowest 42% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$284,000±$31kHighest 4% below ME |
$183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$940±$311Highest 17% below ME |
$915±$100 20% below ME |
| Searsmont and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,804 41% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,788Highest 8% below ME |
$1,854 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
41.4%±41.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Searsmont and Mapleton 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.6% ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 34% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±10.1 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Embden and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 71 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.