Compare towns

Millinocket vs Monroe vs Solon

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Millinocket has the most affordable homes ($100k median).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Solon has the most homeowners (88.6%).

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.

MeasureMillinocketMonroeSolon
People
Population
3,779Highest
1,001
963Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-8.1%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+4.6%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-7.1%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
57.5±7.3Highest
28% above ME
43.5±7Lowest
about the ME average
45.9±5.4
about the ME average
Millinocket and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.1%±6.5Lowest
ME: 18.1%
23.7%±5.1Highest
ME: 18.1%
17.2%±4.6
ME: 18.1%
Monroe and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
39.4%±8.7Highest
ME: 22.4%
22.6%±4.5Lowest
ME: 22.4%
23.9%±3.6
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
19.4%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
29.1%Highest
ME: 36.2%
25%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±3.2
ME: 5.8%
5.3%±4.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
1.3%±1.5Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Monroe and Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$50,445±$11kLowest
32% below ME
$81,300±$7kHighest
9% above ME
$69,205±$20k
7% 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
$99,800±$24kLowest
66% below ME
$220,300±$57kHighest
26% below ME
$183,600±$12k
38% 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
$451±$130Lowest
60% below ME
$1,165±$152Highest
about the ME average
$915±$100
20% below ME
Monroe and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,538Lowest
49% below ME
$2,207Highest
27% below ME
$1,854
39% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
20.5%±11
ME: 48.4%
50.9%±47.8Highest
ME: 48.4%
14.6%±48.8Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Monroe and Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
18.7%Highest
ME: 10.7%
11.3%
ME: 10.7%
10.7%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.5%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
87.4%
ME: 74.3%
88.6%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
21 yrs older than ME
1992Highest
15 yrs newer than ME
1978
1 yr newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
14% below ME
32 min
28% above ME
52 minHighest
113% above ME
Work from home
1.7%±3Lowest
ME: 15.9%
11.8%±4.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
9.1%±4.7
ME: 15.9%
Monroe and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #98 of 133 in ME — —
School district — RSU 03/MSAD 03 RSU 74/MSAD 74
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.