Compare towns

Howland vs Embden vs Howland

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Howland has the most kids (22% under 18).
Embden has the most people working from home (18.7%).
Howland has the most renters (24.1% rent).

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.

MeasureHowlandEmbdenHowland
People
Population
1,367Highest
995Lowest
1,235
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-11.8%
ME: +2.6%
-3.9%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-13.6%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
47.6±10.2Lowest
6% above ME
60.6±5.1Highest
35% above ME
47.9±11.5
7% above ME
Embden and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22%±5.3Highest
ME: 18.1%
13.2%±5.5Lowest
ME: 18.1%
20.8%±5.4
ME: 18.1%
Howland and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.8%±4.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
34.6%±9.5Highest
ME: 22.4%
23.2%±4.3
ME: 22.4%
Embden and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
12%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
16.2%Highest
ME: 36.2%
12.9%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±1.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
0.4%±1.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
2.1%±1.6
ME: 5.8%
Howland and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$49,297±$21kLowest
34% below ME
$56,875±$23kHighest
24% below ME
$53,250±$25k
29% below ME
Embden and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$150,100±$52kLowest
49% below ME
$173,400±$59kHighest
42% below ME
$152,100±$34k
49% below ME
Embden and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$916±$246
20% below ME
—
$916±$246
20% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,546Lowest
49% below ME
$1,804Highest
41% below ME
$1,557
49% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29%±18.2Highest
ME: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
ME: 48.4%
29%±18.2Highest
ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line
25.2%
ME: 10.7%
12.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
28%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.9%
ME: 74.3%
96.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
75.9%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970
7 yrs older than ME
1980Highest
3 yrs newer than ME
1968Lowest
9 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minLowest
26% above ME
33 minHighest
34% above ME
32 min
28% above ME
Work from home
0%±3Lowest
ME: 15.9%
18.7%±7.5Highest
ME: 15.9%
0%±3.3Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Schools
School district RSU 31/MSAD 31 — —
High school in town Penobscot Valley High School — —
Students per teacherat that high school
8.9
— —
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.