Compare towns
Industry vs Appleton vs Starks vs Monroe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Industry has the youngest population (median age 40.6).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
Monroe has the highest household income ($81k).
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 | Industry | Appleton | Starks | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 988 |
1,360Highest |
556Lowest |
1,001 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -15.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3% ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.6±10.7Lowest 9% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
46.7±9.4 4% above ME |
43.5±7 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.4%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Industry and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±6.6 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2Lowest 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+ | 34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9Highest 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 | $63,056±$19k 16% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$63,500±$8k 15% below ME |
$81,300±$7kHighest 9% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $205,600±$31k 31% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% 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 | $1,049±$137Lowest 8% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,063±$301 7% below ME |
$1,165±$152Highest about the ME average |
| Monroe and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,793 41% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$2,207 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.9%±38.2 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Industry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 67% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
33 min 33% above ME |
32 min 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.1%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Monroe and Appleton 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 |
| High school 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.