Compare towns
Appleton vs Monroe vs Solon vs Hope
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Monroe has the youngest population (median age 43.5).
Solon has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Hope has the most expensive homes ($373k median).
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 | Appleton | Monroe | Solon | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,001 |
963Lowest |
1,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
43.5±7Lowest about the ME average |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% ME: 36.2% |
29.1% ME: 36.2% |
25%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$81,300±$7k 9% above ME |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
| Hope and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$220,300±$57k 26% below ME |
$183,600±$12kLowest 38% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,165±$152 about the ME average |
$915±$100Lowest 20% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
| Hope and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 18% above ME |
$2,207 27% below ME |
$1,854Lowest 39% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% ME: 10.7% |
11.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
32 min 28% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | Hope Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.