Compare towns
Embden vs Solon vs Wayne 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 oldest population (median age 60.6).
Solon has the youngest population (median age 45.9).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
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 | Solon | Wayne | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 995 |
963 |
1,101Highest |
845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-5% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
45.9±5.4Lowest about the ME average |
55.6±5.3 24% above ME |
56.1±8.4 25% above ME |
| 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% |
17.2%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2 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% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,875±$23kLowest 24% below ME |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
| Wayne 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 |
$183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $915±$100Lowest 20% below ME |
$983±$554Highest 14% below ME |
— |
| Wayne 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 |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Wayne 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% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 34% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
30 minLowest 24% above ME |
42 min 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Embden 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 38 | RSU 10 |
| 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.