Compare towns
Monroe vs Appleton vs Jackson vs Frankfort
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 kids (23.7% under 18).
Appleton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Jackson has the most people working from home (15.3%).
Frankfort has the most homeowners (91.2%).
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 | Jackson | Frankfort |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,001 |
1,360Highest |
567Lowest |
1,098 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.5±7 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
50.2±5.8Highest 12% above ME |
| Frankfort and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
15.8%±3.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,300±$7kHighest 9% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$75,167±$19k about the ME average |
$80,000±$26k 7% above ME |
| Monroe and Frankfort 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 |
$231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
$211,300±$60kLowest 29% below ME |
| Appleton and Jackson 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 |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$850±$299 25% 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 |
$2,651 13% below ME |
$1,926Lowest 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±88Lowest 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% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
16.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 28% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
32 min 31% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.7%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Jackson and Monroe 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 | — | — |
| High school 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.