Compare towns
Brooks vs Appleton vs Knox vs Monroe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooks has the most people working from home (14.5%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Knox has the most affordable homes ($160k median).
Monroe has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Brooks | Appleton | Knox | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
1,360Highest |
825Lowest |
1,001 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.6% ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41.1±7.9Lowest 8% below ME |
43.5±7 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.3%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,130±$10k 21% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$64,821±$9k 13% below ME |
$81,300±$7kHighest 9% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,700±$33k 34% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$159,600±$26kLowest 46% below ME |
$220,300±$57k 26% below ME |
| Appleton and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,116±$112 about the ME average |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,375±$47Highest 21% above ME |
$1,165±$152 about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096 31% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,610Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,207 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.3%±31.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8 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 | 19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
80.1% ME: 74.3% |
87.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
30 min 23% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
32 minHighest 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±7.4 ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Brooks and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school 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.