Compare towns
Monroe vs Phillips vs Solon 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%).
Phillips has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Solon has the most affordable homes ($184k 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 | Phillips | Solon | Perry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,001 |
1,094Highest |
963 |
744Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1% ME: +2.6% |
-9.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.5±7Lowest about the ME average |
49.7±3.7Highest 11% above ME |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
45.5±11.4 about the ME average |
| Phillips and Solon 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% |
20.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6Lowest 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% |
21.3%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
21%±6.2Lowest 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% |
20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
31.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe and Phillips 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 |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$69,205±$20k 7% 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±$57kHighest 26% below ME |
$190,800±$18k 36% below ME |
$183,600±$12kLowest 38% below ME |
$196,400±$13k 34% below ME |
| Monroe and Perry 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 |
$483±$377Lowest 58% 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 |
$2,582 15% below ME |
$1,854Lowest 39% below ME |
$3,132Highest 3% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±47.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
27.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Monroe and Phillips 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% |
17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1990 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 28% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
26 min 6% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
23.4%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Perry and Phillips 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 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | Perry Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.