Compare towns
Solon vs Perry vs Embden vs Prospect
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 renters (11.4% rent).
Perry has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Embden has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
Prospect has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.6%).
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 | Perry | Embden | Prospect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 963 |
744Lowest |
995Highest |
923 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1% ME: +2.6% |
-9.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.9% ME: +2.6% |
-1.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
45.5±11.4 about the ME average |
60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
45.2±7.5Lowest about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
24.1%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.2%±10.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Prospect and Perry 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%±6.2 ME: 22.4% |
34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.8%±1.7Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
31.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1 ME: 5.8% |
| Perry and Prospect 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 |
$82,056±$4kHighest 10% above ME |
$56,875±$23kLowest 24% below ME |
$81,250±$17k 9% above ME |
| Perry and Prospect 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 |
$196,400±$13k 34% below ME |
$173,400±$59kLowest 42% below ME |
$196,500±$19kHighest 34% below ME |
| Prospect and Perry 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 |
— | — | $1,107±$61Highest about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,854 39% below ME |
$3,132Highest 3% above ME |
$1,804Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,979 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8 ME: 48.4% |
27.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±42Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Prospect and Perry 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% |
4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.8% ME: 74.3% |
96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1990 13 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
26 minLowest 6% above ME |
33 min 34% above ME |
33 min 34% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
23.4%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.7%±7.5 ME: 15.9% |
6.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Perry and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | Perry Public Schools | — | — |
| 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.