Compare towns
Solon vs Sumner 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
Solon has the most renters (11.4% rent).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Prospect has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
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 | Sumner | Prospect | Embden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 963 |
845Lowest |
923 |
995Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.6% ME: +2.6% |
-3.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
56.1±8.4 25% above ME |
45.2±7.5Lowest about the ME average |
60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
| Embden and Sumner 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% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
25.2%±10.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Prospect 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% |
29.7%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
19.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Embden and Sumner 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% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.3% ME: 36.2% |
16.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Prospect and Sumner 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 |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$81,250±$17kHighest 9% above ME |
$56,875±$23kLowest 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 |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% 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±$100Lowest 20% below ME |
— | $1,107±$61Highest about the ME average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,854 39% below ME |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,979 35% below ME |
$1,804Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±42 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner 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% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
12.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
88.8% ME: 74.3% |
96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
42 min 72% above ME |
33 minLowest 34% above ME |
33 minLowest 34% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
6.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Embden and Sumner 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 10 | — | — |
| 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.