Compare towns
Ludlow vs Mapleton vs Monroe vs Smyrna
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ludlow has the oldest population (median age 46.1).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Monroe has the most expensive homes ($220k median).
Smyrna has the most kids (33.2% 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 | Ludlow | Mapleton | Monroe | Smyrna |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 444 |
1,884Highest |
1,001 |
380Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 46.1±5.8Highest about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
43.5±7 about the ME average |
31±9.6Lowest 31% below ME |
| Ludlow and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
33.2%±5.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Smyrna and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
10.8%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Monroe and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.1% ME: 36.2% |
17.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±2.9Lowest 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 | $62,500±$21k 16% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$81,300±$7k 9% above ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
| Mapleton and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $133,900±$56k 55% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$220,300±$57kHighest 26% below ME |
$117,100±$10kLowest 61% below ME |
| Monroe and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $988±$111 13% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$1,165±$152Highest about the ME average |
$425±$63Lowest 63% below ME |
| Monroe and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,655 45% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$2,207Highest 27% below ME |
$1,200Lowest 60% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±94.3 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Monroe and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.3% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
15.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 15% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
32 minHighest 28% above ME |
15 minLowest 37% below ME |
| Work from home | 9.8%±8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±6.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Monroe and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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.