Compare towns
Monroe vs Gorham 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).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
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 | Gorham | Solon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,001 |
18,300Highest |
963Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.5±7 about the ME average |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
45.9±5.4Highest about the ME average |
| Solon and Monroe 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% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe and Gorham 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% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest 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% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±4.9 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,300±$7k 9% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$69,205±$20kLowest 7% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $220,300±$57k 26% below ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$183,600±$12kLowest 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$152 about the ME average |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$915±$100Lowest 20% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,207 27% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$1,854Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±47.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Monroe and Gorham 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% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 28% above ME |
27 minLowest 10% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham and Monroe 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 | — | #24 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.