Compare towns
Solon vs Wayne 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 kids (17.2% under 18).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Embden has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.9%).
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 | Wayne | Embden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 963Lowest |
1,101Highest |
995 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-5% ME: +2.6% |
-3.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4Lowest about the ME average |
55.6±5.3 24% above ME |
60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
| Embden and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Solon and Wayne 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% |
29.2%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Embden and Wayne 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% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$56,875±$23kLowest 24% below ME |
| Wayne 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 |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$173,400±$59kLowest 42% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $915±$100Lowest 20% below ME |
$983±$554Highest 14% below ME |
— |
| Wayne and Solon 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 |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$1,804Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Wayne 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% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
30 minLowest 24% above ME |
33 min 34% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.7%±7.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne 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 | RSU 38 | — |
| High school in town | None 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.