Compare towns
Monroe vs Penobscot vs Perry
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%).
Penobscot has the most expensive homes ($296k median).
Perry has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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 | Penobscot | Perry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,001 |
1,154Highest |
744Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-9.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.5±7Lowest about the ME average |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
45.5±11.4 about the ME average |
| Penobscot and Perry 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% |
18%±6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.1%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Perry and Monroe 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% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
21%±6.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
32.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe and Perry 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 |
$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME |
$82,056±$4kHighest 10% above ME |
| Perry and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $220,300±$57k 26% below ME |
$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
$196,400±$13kLowest 34% below ME |
| Penobscot and Monroe 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 |
$1,141±$33Lowest about the ME average |
— |
| Monroe and Penobscot 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 |
$1,852Lowest 39% below ME |
$3,132Highest 3% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot and Monroe 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% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1990 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 28% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
26 min 6% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.8%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
23.4%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Perry and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Penobscot Public Schools | Perry Public Schools |
| 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.