Compare towns
Randolph 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
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.6%).
Embden has the most people working from home (18.7%).
Howland has the most kids (22% 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 | Randolph | Embden | Howland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,610Highest |
995Lowest |
1,367 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.9% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
47.6±10.2Lowest 6% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
22%±5.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Howland and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.8%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Embden and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.2% ME: 36.2% |
12%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Howland and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,574±$16kHighest 11% below ME |
$56,875±$23k 24% below ME |
$49,297±$21kLowest 34% below ME |
| Randolph and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $174,300±$21kHighest 41% below ME |
$173,400±$59k 42% below ME |
$150,100±$52kLowest 49% below ME |
| Randolph and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,186±$207Highest 4% above ME |
— | $916±$246Lowest 20% below ME |
| Randolph and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,160Highest 29% below ME |
$1,804 41% below ME |
$1,546Lowest 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.3%±8.1 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
29%±18.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Howland and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.7% ME: 10.7% |
12.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
25.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1970 7 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
33 minHighest 34% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.3%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
0%±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.