Compare towns
Solon vs Exeter 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 kids (17.2% under 18).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
Embden has the most people working from home (18.7%).
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 | Exeter | Embden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 963Lowest |
1,093Highest |
995 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4Lowest about the ME average |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
| Embden and Exeter 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% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Solon and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Lowest 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
16.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Exeter 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 |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$56,875±$23kLowest 24% below ME |
| Exeter 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±$12kHighest 38% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$173,400±$59k 42% below ME |
| Solon and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $915±$100Lowest 20% below ME |
$995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
— |
| Exeter and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,854Highest 39% below ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$1,804 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Exeter and Solon 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% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
35 min 43% above ME |
33 minLowest 34% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Embden and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.