Compare towns
Brooks vs Stoneham 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 renters (25.4% rent).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (40.7%).
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 | Stoneham | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208Highest |
271Lowest |
1,001 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | +4.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
60.6±7.1Highest 35% above ME |
43.5±7Lowest about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
5.9%±7.9Lowest 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% |
41%±17.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Stoneham 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
37.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5 ME: 5.8% |
14.8%±13.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Stoneham and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME |
$63,750±$27k 15% below ME |
$81,300±$7kHighest 9% above ME |
| Monroe and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME |
$226,200±$32kHighest 24% below ME |
$220,300±$57k 26% below ME |
| Stoneham and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,116±$112Lowest about the ME average |
$1,125±$383 about the ME average |
$1,165±$152Highest about the ME average |
| Monroe and Stoneham 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 |
$1,426Lowest 53% below ME |
$2,207Highest 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
66.7%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Stoneham 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% |
7.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
29 min 18% above ME |
32 minHighest 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
40.7%±15.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.