Compare towns
Monroe vs Appleton vs Chapman vs Solon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Monroe has the most people working from home (11.8%).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Chapman has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Solon has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
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 | Monroe | Appleton | Chapman | Solon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,001 |
1,360Highest |
388Lowest |
963 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.5±7Lowest about the ME average |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Chapman and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,300±$7k 9% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
| Chapman and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $220,300±$57k 26% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$185,700±$22k 37% below ME |
$183,600±$12kLowest 38% below ME |
| Appleton and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$152Highest about the ME average |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
— | $915±$100Lowest 20% below ME |
| Monroe and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,207 27% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,850Lowest 39% below ME |
$1,854 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 28% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 6% below ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.8%±4.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Monroe and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| 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.