Compare towns
Jefferson vs Mapleton vs Monroe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the most expensive homes ($312k median).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Monroe has the most people working from home (11.8%).
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 | Jefferson | Mapleton | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,647Highest |
1,884 |
1,001Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
43.5±7Highest about the ME average |
| Monroe and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Monroe and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,078±$17k 14% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$81,300±$7kLowest 9% above ME |
| Mapleton and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$220,300±$57k 26% below ME |
| Jefferson and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$130 about the ME average |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,165±$152Highest about the ME average |
| Monroe and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,587Highest 15% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,207 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Monroe and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
11.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
32 minHighest 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Monroe and Mapleton 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 | #45 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Jefferson Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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 |
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.