Compare towns
Jay vs Monroe vs Solon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Solon has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Jay | Monroe | Solon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,657Highest |
1,001 |
963Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8% ME: +2.6% |
+4.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
43.5±7 about the ME average |
45.9±5.4Highest about the ME average |
| Solon and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Solon and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.1% ME: 36.2% |
25%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
$81,300±$7kHighest 9% above ME |
$69,205±$20kLowest 7% below ME |
| Monroe and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $168,600±$27kLowest 43% below ME |
$220,300±$57kHighest 26% below ME |
$183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
| Monroe and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141Lowest 33% below ME |
$1,165±$152Highest about the ME average |
$915±$100 20% below ME |
| Monroe and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245Highest 26% below ME |
$2,207 27% below ME |
$1,854Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Monroe and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
32 min 28% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Monroe and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #86 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 73 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.