Compare towns
Solon vs Mapleton vs Embden vs Brighton plantation
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Embden has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
Brighton plantation has the most renters (40.6% rent).
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 | Mapleton | Embden | Brighton plantation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 963 |
1,884Highest |
995 |
98Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.9% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
45.8±46.2 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
9.2%±32.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±27.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Embden and Brighton plantation 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.2% ME: 36.2% |
10%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
0%±15.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$56,875±$23kLowest 24% below ME |
$73,750±$50k about the ME average |
| Mapleton and Brighton plantation 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 |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$173,400±$59kLowest 42% below ME |
— |
| Mapleton and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $915±$100Highest 20% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
— | — |
| Solon and Mapleton 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,804 41% below ME |
$4,500Highest 48% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Brighton plantation and Mapleton 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% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.2% ME: 10.7% |
37.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
59.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
33 min 34% above ME |
— |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±22.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Embden and Brighton plantation 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 79/MSAD 01 | — | — |
| 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.