Compare towns
Mercer vs Mapleton vs New Sharon vs Monroe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mercer has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
New Sharon has the most affordable homes ($171k median).
Monroe has the most kids (23.7% 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 | Mercer | Mapleton | New Sharon | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 718Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,550 |
1,001 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.6% ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 3% below ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
43.9±8.9Highest about the ME average |
43.5±7 about the ME average |
| New Sharon and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±6.4 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
20%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.9%±5.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.8%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Mercer and New Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.9% ME: 36.2% |
29.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.6 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 | $71,107±$2k 5% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$63,889±$21kLowest 15% below ME |
$81,300±$7k 9% above 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 | $238,500±$32kHighest 20% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$171,200±$21kLowest 42% below ME |
$220,300±$57k 26% below ME |
| Mercer and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$961±$55 16% below ME |
$1,165±$152 about the ME average |
| Mercer and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,970 35% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,889 38% below ME |
$2,207Highest 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.5%±74 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
61%±38Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
| New Sharon and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as 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 |
30 min 23% above ME |
32 minHighest 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.5%±8.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
8.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Mercer and Monroe 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 09 | 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 | 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.