Compare towns
Monroe vs Lagrange vs Swanville
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%).
Lagrange has the most affordable homes ($126k median).
Swanville has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Lagrange | Swanville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,001 |
709Lowest |
1,195Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.5±7Lowest about the ME average |
45.9±13.8 about the ME average |
53.2±6.4Highest 19% above ME |
| Swanville and Lagrange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.7%±11.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Lagrange and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Monroe and Swanville 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% |
23.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe and Lagrange 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 |
$58,417±$14k 22% below ME |
$51,935±$7kLowest 31% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $220,300±$57k 26% below ME |
$126,000±$33kLowest 58% below ME |
$237,300±$36kHighest 20% below ME |
| Swanville and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$152 about the ME average |
$831±$151Lowest 27% below ME |
$1,191±$113Highest 5% above ME |
| Swanville and Monroe 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 |
$869Lowest 71% below ME |
$2,368Highest 22% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
66.7%±56.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
47.5%±33.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Lagrange and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.4% ME: 10.7% |
23%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% ME: 74.3% |
72.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 28% above ME |
36 minHighest 45% above ME |
26 minLowest 4% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.8%±4.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.1%±4.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.7%±4.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Monroe and Swanville 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 71 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.