Compare towns
Solon vs Buckfield 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 most renters (11.4% rent).
Buckfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
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 | Buckfield | Embden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 963Lowest |
2,403Highest |
995 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
37.7±10.1Lowest 16% below ME |
60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
25.7%±7.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Buckfield and Solon 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% |
13.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
34.6%±9.5Highest 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+ | 25% ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Buckfield and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
$77,917±$41kHighest 4% above ME |
$56,875±$23kLowest 24% below ME |
| Buckfield and Solon 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 |
$227,700±$18kHighest 23% below ME |
$173,400±$59kLowest 42% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $915±$100Highest 20% below ME |
$521±$33Lowest 54% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,854 39% below ME |
$2,860Highest 6% below ME |
$1,804Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±55Lowest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Solon and Buckfield 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% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.9% ME: 74.3% |
96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
31 minLowest 25% above ME |
33 min 34% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±12.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Embden and Buckfield 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 10 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Buckfield Jr-Sr High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.2 |
— |
| 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.