Compare towns
Solon vs Perham 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 youngest population (median age 45.9).
Perham has the most affordable homes ($118k median).
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 | Perham | Embden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 963 |
326Lowest |
995Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | -3.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4Lowest about the ME average |
53±12.9 18% above ME |
60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
| Embden and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
19.6%±8.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Perham and Solon 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% |
24.5%±2.3 ME: 22.4% |
34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Embden and Perham 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% |
18.7% ME: 36.2% |
16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Perham 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±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
$62,500±$22k 16% below ME |
$56,875±$23kLowest 24% below ME |
| Solon and Perham 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 |
$117,600±$9kLowest 60% 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±$100 20% below ME |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,854Highest 39% below ME |
$1,641Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,804 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Perham 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% |
2.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5% ME: 74.3% |
96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
33 min 34% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±7.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Embden and Solon 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.