Compare towns
Monroe vs Brooks vs Jackson 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 kids (23.7% under 18).
Brooks has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Brooks | Jackson | Solon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,001 |
1,208Highest |
567Lowest |
963 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% ME: +2.6% |
-6.3% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.5±7 about the ME average |
45.9±6.6Highest about the ME average |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
45.9±5.4Highest about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest 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+ | 22.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Solon 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% ME: 36.2% |
27.5% ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±4.9 ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Monroe 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 |
$59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME |
$75,167±$19k about the ME average |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
| Monroe and Jackson 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 |
$196,700±$33k 34% below ME |
$231,500±$16kHighest 22% below ME |
$183,600±$12kLowest 38% below ME |
| Jackson 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 |
$1,116±$112 about the ME average |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$915±$100 20% below ME |
| Monroe and Brooks 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 |
$2,096 31% below ME |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$1,854Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±47.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Monroe and Brooks 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% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
10.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.6% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 28% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
35 min 41% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Jackson and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — | 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.