Compare towns
Monroe vs New Gloucester vs Brooks
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%).
New Gloucester has the most expensive homes ($357k median).
Brooks has the most affordable homes ($197k 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 | New Gloucester | Brooks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,001Lowest |
5,766Highest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.4% ME: +2.6% |
-6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.5±7 about the ME average |
40.1±5.5Lowest 10% below ME |
45.9±6.6Highest about the ME average |
| Brooks and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| New Gloucester 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% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Monroe and Brooks 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% |
30.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±4.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest 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±$7k 9% above ME |
$108,797±$12kHighest 46% above ME |
$59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $220,300±$57k 26% below ME |
$357,100±$29kHighest 20% above ME |
$196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$152Highest about the ME average |
$1,150±$249 about the ME average |
$1,116±$112Lowest about the ME average |
| Monroe and New Gloucester 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 |
$3,417Highest 13% above ME |
$2,096Lowest 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±47.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.7%±12 ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Monroe and New Gloucester 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% |
4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.9% ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1986Lowest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 28% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.8%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Brooks and New Gloucester 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 | — | #65 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| 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 |
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.