Compare towns
Monroe vs Solon vs Waldo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Monroe has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Solon has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Waldo has the shortest commute (20 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 | Solon | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,001Highest |
963 |
926Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.5±7 about the ME average |
45.9±5.4Highest about the ME average |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
| 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% |
17.2%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe and Waldo 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% |
23.9%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest 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% |
25%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe and Waldo 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 |
$69,205±$20kLowest 7% below ME |
$71,458±$21k 4% below ME |
| Monroe and Waldo 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 |
$183,600±$12kLowest 38% below ME |
$208,000±$41k 30% below ME |
| Monroe and Waldo 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 |
$915±$100Lowest 20% below ME |
$1,150±$691 about the ME average |
| Monroe and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,207Highest 27% below ME |
$1,854 39% below ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Monroe 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% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 28% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Waldo and Monroe 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 74/MSAD 74 | Waldo-Region 7 |
| 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.