Compare towns
Monroe vs Danforth vs Washburn 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Washburn has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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.
| Measure | Monroe | Danforth | Washburn | Solon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,001 |
666Lowest |
1,355Highest |
963 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
-9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.5±7Lowest about the ME average |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
48.2±7.7 8% above ME |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
| Danforth and Washburn 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% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe and Washburn 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%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
24%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe and Washburn 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 |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$56,196±$6k 25% below 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 | $220,300±$57kHighest 26% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$112,900±$14k 62% 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 | $1,165±$152Highest about the ME average |
$629±$29 45% below ME |
$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME |
$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 | $2,207Highest 27% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,571 48% below ME |
$1,854 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±47.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±24.7 ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Monroe and Danforth 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% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12.7% ME: 10.7% |
10.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% ME: 74.3% |
81.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 28% above ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.8%±4.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Monroe and Washburn 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 45/MSAD 45 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Washburn District High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0 |
— |
| 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.