Compare towns
Embden vs Monroe vs Sumner 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).
Monroe has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
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 | Monroe | Sumner | Solon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 995 |
1,001Highest |
845Lowest |
963 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
43.5±7Lowest about the ME average |
56.1±8.4 25% above ME |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
| Embden and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe and Sumner 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% |
22.6%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Embden and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.2% ME: 36.2% |
29.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe and Sumner 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 |
$81,300±$7kHighest 9% above ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
| Monroe 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 |
$220,300±$57kHighest 26% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
| Monroe and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,165±$152Highest about the ME average |
— | $915±$100Lowest 20% below ME |
| Monroe and Solon 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 |
$2,207Highest 27% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$1,854 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Monroe 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% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 34% above ME |
32 minLowest 28% above ME |
42 min 72% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Embden and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 10 | 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.