Compare towns
Embden vs Solon vs Strong
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Embden has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.9%).
Solon has the highest household income ($69k).
Strong has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
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 | Solon | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 995 |
963Lowest |
1,249Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
45.9±5.4Lowest about the ME average |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
| Embden and Strong 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% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Strong 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% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1Lowest 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% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Strong 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±$23k 24% below ME |
$69,205±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Solon and Embden 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 |
$183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
$183,900±$29kHighest 38% below ME |
| Strong and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $915±$100Lowest 20% below ME |
$920±$276Highest 19% below ME |
| Strong 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 |
$1,854 39% below ME |
$1,950Highest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Strong and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2% ME: 10.7% |
10.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 34% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
31 minLowest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Embden and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.