Compare towns
Embden vs Unity vs Solon vs Anson
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).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Solon has the highest household income ($69k).
Anson has the most affordable homes ($118k median).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Solon | Anson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 995 |
1,858 |
963Lowest |
2,331Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1% ME: +2.6% |
-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
46.7±6.2 4% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
22.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Anson 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% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±4.9 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% ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
25%Highest ME: 36.2% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,875±$23k 24% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$69,205±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
$52,474±$21kLowest 30% below ME |
| Solon and Unity 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 |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
$117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
| Unity and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$915±$100 20% below ME |
$928±$62Highest 19% below ME |
| Anson 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 |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,854 39% below ME |
$1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13Highest ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8 ME: 48.4% |
20.6%±23.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Unity and Anson 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% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1972Lowest 5 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 34% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Embden and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| High school in town | — | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town | Carrabec High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4Highest |
— | 11.6Lowest |
| 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.