Compare towns
Monroe vs Jay 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%).
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Solon has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Jay | Solon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,001 |
4,657Highest |
963Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.8% ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.5±7 about the ME average |
39.5±5.1Lowest 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% |
17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe and Jay 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% |
19.3%±4.7Lowest 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% |
29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe and Jay 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 |
$70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
$69,205±$20kLowest 7% below ME |
| Monroe and Jay 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 |
$168,600±$27kLowest 43% 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 |
$759±$141Lowest 33% 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 | $2,207 27% below ME |
$2,245Highest 26% below ME |
$1,854Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±47.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Monroe and Jay 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% |
9.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% ME: 74.3% |
82.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 28% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.8%±4.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Monroe and Solon 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 | — | #86 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 73 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| High school in town | None in town | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.