Compare towns
Brooks vs Embden vs Solon 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Embden has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
Solon has the oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
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 | Embden | Solon | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208Highest |
995 |
963Lowest |
1,001 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.9% ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
43.5±7Lowest about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe and Solon 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% |
34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Embden and Solon 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% |
16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
29.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5 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 |
$56,875±$23kLowest 24% below ME |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
$81,300±$7kHighest 9% above ME |
| Monroe and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,700±$33k 34% below ME |
$173,400±$59kLowest 42% below ME |
$183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
$220,300±$57kHighest 26% below ME |
| Monroe and Brooks 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 |
— | $915±$100Lowest 20% below ME |
$1,165±$152Highest about the ME average |
| Monroe and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096 31% below ME |
$1,804Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,854 39% below ME |
$2,207Highest 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8 ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Monroe and Brooks 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% |
12.2% ME: 10.7% |
10.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
33 min 34% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
32 min 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Embden and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | 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.