Compare towns
Mercer vs Wayne 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k 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 | Wayne | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 718Lowest |
1,101Highest |
1,001 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
43.5±7 about the ME average |
| Wayne 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% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest 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%±5.6 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Mercer 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% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Monroe 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 |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$81,300±$7k 9% above ME |
| Wayne 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 |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$220,300±$57kLowest 26% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME |
$983±$554Lowest 14% 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 | $1,970Lowest 35% below ME |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$2,207 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.5%±74Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Monroe and Wayne 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% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
87.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
32 minHighest 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.5%±8.9 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 38 | 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.