Compare towns
Solon vs Unity 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Prospect has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Embden has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Prospect | Embden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 963 |
1,858Highest |
923Lowest |
995 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.6% ME: +2.6% |
-3.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
45.2±7.5 about the ME average |
60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6 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% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.8%±1.7 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% |
22.1% 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% |
30%±4.3Highest 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 |
$62,857±$6k 16% 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 |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$196,500±$19k 34% below ME |
$173,400±$59kLowest 42% below ME |
| Unity and Prospect 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 |
$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$1,107±$61Highest about the ME average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,854 39% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% 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% |
44.8%±13Highest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±42 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Unity 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% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.8% ME: 74.3% |
96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer 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 |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
33 min 34% above ME |
33 min 34% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
6.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Embden and Unity 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 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— | — |
| 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.