Compare towns
Lagrange vs Monroe vs Solon vs Howland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lagrange has the most affordable homes ($126k median).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Solon has the most homeowners (88.6%).
Howland has the oldest population (median age 47.6).
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 | Lagrange | Monroe | Solon | Howland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 709Lowest |
1,001 |
963 |
1,367Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.3% ME: +2.6% |
+4.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±13.8 about the ME average |
43.5±7Lowest about the ME average |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
47.6±10.2Highest 6% above ME |
| Howland and Lagrange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.7%±11.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22%±5.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Lagrange and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.8%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Solon and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
12% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.1%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $58,417±$14k 22% below ME |
$81,300±$7kHighest 9% above ME |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
$49,297±$21kLowest 34% below 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 | $126,000±$33kLowest 58% below ME |
$220,300±$57kHighest 26% below ME |
$183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
$150,100±$52k 49% 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 | $831±$151Lowest 27% below ME |
$1,165±$152Highest about the ME average |
$915±$100 20% below ME |
$916±$246 20% below ME |
| Monroe and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $869Lowest 71% below ME |
$2,207Highest 27% below ME |
$1,854 39% below ME |
$1,546 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±56.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
29%±18.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Lagrange and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.4% ME: 10.7% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
10.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
25.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 45% above ME |
32 min 28% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
31 minLowest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.1%±4.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
0%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Monroe and Solon 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 31/MSAD 31 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Penobscot Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.9 |
| 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.