Compare towns
Monroe vs Springfield vs Solon
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).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($123k median).
Solon has the oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
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 | Springfield | Solon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,001Highest |
310Lowest |
963 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.5±7Lowest about the ME average |
52.4±7Highest 17% above ME |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
| Springfield and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe and Springfield 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% |
21.6%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6Highest 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe and Solon 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 |
$60,833±$23kLowest 19% below ME |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
| Monroe and Solon 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 |
$122,500±$28kLowest 59% below ME |
$183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
| Monroe and Solon 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 |
| Monroe and Solon 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 |
$1,067Lowest 65% below ME |
$1,854 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±47.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
— | 14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Monroe and Solon 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% |
5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 28% above ME |
30 minLowest 21% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.8%±4.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.6%±5.2 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Monroe and Springfield 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 |
| 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.