Compare towns
Solon vs Gorham vs Madison vs Embden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Madison has the most renters (45.4% rent).
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 | Gorham | Madison | Embden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 963Lowest |
18,300Highest |
4,782 |
995 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.7% ME: +2.6% |
-3.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham 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% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.1%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Embden and Madison 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% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$61,747±$11k 17% below ME |
$56,875±$23kLowest 24% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$187,600±$40k 37% below ME |
$173,400±$59kLowest 42% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $915±$100 20% below ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$906±$247Lowest 20% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,854 39% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$1,983 35% below ME |
$1,804Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8 ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Gorham and Madison 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% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
33 min 34% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.7%±7.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #24 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Madison Jr/Sr High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
10.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.