Compare towns
Embden vs Orient vs Solon vs Sumner
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 homeowners (96.3%).
Orient has the most people working from home (81%).
Solon has the youngest population (median age 45.9).
Sumner has the most affordable homes ($150k 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 | Orient | Solon | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 995Highest |
137Lowest |
963 |
845 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% ME: +2.6% |
— | -7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 60.6±5.1 35% above ME |
62±9Highest 38% above ME |
45.9±5.4Lowest about the ME average |
56.1±8.4 25% above ME |
| Orient and Embden 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% |
16.8%±18.9 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 34.6%±9.5 ME: 22.4% |
46%±10.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Orient and Embden 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% |
25%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
0%±11.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Sumner 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 |
— | $69,205±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
| Solon and Sumner 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 |
$548,600±$183kHighest 85% above ME |
$183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $915±$100 20% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,804Lowest 41% below ME |
— | $1,854 39% below ME |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 12.2% ME: 10.7% |
35.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
93.7% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 34% above ME |
— | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
42 min 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.5 ME: 15.9% |
81%±44Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | RSU 10 |
| High school 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.