Compare towns
Solon vs Wayne vs Embden vs Madison
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 the oldest population (median age 60.6).
Madison has the most renters (45.4% rent).
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 | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 963Lowest |
1,101 |
995 |
4,782Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-5% ME: +2.6% |
-3.9% ME: +2.6% |
-2.7%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 |
49.6±3.4 11% 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% |
14.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Solon and Madison 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% |
25.1%±5.8 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% |
21.4% 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% |
4.1%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Madison 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 |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$56,875±$23kLowest 24% below ME |
$61,747±$11k 17% 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 |
$187,600±$40k 37% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $915±$100 20% below ME |
$983±$554Highest 14% below ME |
— | $906±$247Lowest 20% 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 |
$1,983 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Madison and Wayne 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% ME: 10.7% |
15%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
33 min 34% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% 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% |
19.3%±10.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Madison 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 | — | RSU 59/MSAD 59 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Madison Jr/Sr High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.