Compare towns
Solon vs Appleton vs Burnham vs Embden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Solon has the highest household income ($69k).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Burnham has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Embden has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
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 | Solon | Appleton | Burnham | Embden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 963 |
1,360Highest |
953Lowest |
995 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5.8% ME: +2.6% |
-3.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4Lowest about the ME average |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
48.4±3.2 8% above ME |
60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
| Embden and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
16.8%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Solon and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
22.2%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Embden and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.8% ME: 36.2% |
16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,205±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$59,261±$18k 21% below ME |
$56,875±$23k 24% below ME |
| Solon and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$178,100±$43k 40% below ME |
$173,400±$59kLowest 42% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $915±$100Lowest 20% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,308±$386Highest 15% above ME |
— |
| Burnham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,854 39% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,897 38% below ME |
$1,804Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
60.9%±49 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.8% ME: 74.3% |
96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
22 minLowest 13% below ME |
33 min 34% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
17%±10.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Embden and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | Appleton Public Schools | — | — |
| High school 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.