Compare towns
Mercer vs Otis 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%).
Otis has the oldest population (median age 54.7).
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 | Otis | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 718 |
705Lowest |
1,001Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME |
54.7±3.1Highest 22% above ME |
43.5±7 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±6.4 ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±7.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe and Mercer 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% |
20.9%±8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Mercer and Monroe 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% |
34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,107±$2kLowest 5% below ME |
$101,250±$27kHighest 35% above ME |
$81,300±$7k 9% above ME |
| Otis 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±$32k 20% below ME |
$282,500±$23kHighest 5% below ME |
$220,300±$57kLowest 26% below ME |
| Otis and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$249 25% above ME |
$1,563±$734Highest 37% above ME |
$1,165±$152Lowest about the ME average |
| Otis and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,970Lowest 35% below ME |
$2,263Highest 25% below ME |
$2,207 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.5%±74Lowest ME: 48.4% |
35.7%±100 ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Monroe and Otis 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% |
7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.5% ME: 74.3% |
87.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1990 13 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
42 minHighest 69% above ME |
32 min 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.5%±8.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±3.5Lowest 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 | — | Otis Public Schools | 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 |
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.