Compare towns
Appleton vs Monroe vs Solon vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Monroe has the highest household income ($81k).
Solon has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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 | Appleton | Monroe | Solon | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,001 |
963Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
43.5±7 about the ME average |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| 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%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Monroe 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% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest 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% |
34.4%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% |
3.5%±1.5 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±$7kHighest 9% above ME |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Monroe and Union 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 |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
| Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,165±$152 about the ME average |
$915±$100Lowest 20% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,207 27% below ME |
$1,854Lowest 39% below ME |
$3,276 8% 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% |
24.6%±19.8 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%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% 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 |
1979 2 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 |
29 minLowest 20% above 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% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Union 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 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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.