Compare towns
Solon vs Limestone vs Prospect vs Embden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Limestone has the most affordable homes ($98k median).
Prospect has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.6%).
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 | Limestone | Prospect | Embden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 963 |
1,579Highest |
923Lowest |
995 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1% ME: +2.6% |
-34.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
45.3±4.9 about the ME average |
45.2±7.5Lowest about the ME average |
60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
25.2%±10.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Prospect and Limestone 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% |
21.7%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
19.8%±1.7Lowest 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.3% ME: 36.2% |
22.3% ME: 36.2% |
16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
9.5%±4.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
$49,938±$8kLowest 33% below ME |
$81,250±$17kHighest 9% above ME |
$56,875±$23k 24% below ME |
| Prospect 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 |
$98,400±$18kLowest 67% below ME |
$196,500±$19kHighest 34% below ME |
$173,400±$59k 42% below ME |
| Prospect and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $915±$100 20% below ME |
$754±$233Lowest 34% below ME |
$1,107±$61Highest about the ME average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,854 39% below ME |
$1,332Lowest 56% below ME |
$1,979Highest 35% below ME |
$1,804 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8 ME: 48.4% |
32%±12.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±42 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Limestone and Prospect 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% |
16.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
61.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.8% ME: 74.3% |
96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
33 min 34% above ME |
33 min 34% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±5.2 ME: 15.9% |
6.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Embden and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics · Limestone Public Schools | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— | — |
| 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.