What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monroe has the most kids (23.7% under 18).

Standish has the most expensive homes ($336k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Monroe	Standish
People
Population	1,001Lowest	10,662Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	+3.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	43.5±7Highest about the ME average	40.5±2.8Lowest 10% below ME
	Monroe and Standish 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%	16.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Monroe and Standish 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%	15.2%±2.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%	36%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	11.6%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8%
	Standish 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±$7kLowest 9% above ME	$104,593±$15kHighest 40% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$220,300±$57kLowest 26% below ME	$336,000±$18kHighest 13% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,165±$152Highest about the ME average	$983±$453Lowest 14% below ME
	Monroe and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,207Lowest 27% below ME	$3,005Highest about the ME average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.9%±47.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	57.4%±22.3Highest ME: 48.4%
	Standish 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%	7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%	91.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 28% above ME	29 minLowest 20% above ME
Work from home	11.8%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	13.6%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Standish and Monroe 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	—	#18 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 03/MSAD 03	RSU 06/MSAD 06
High school in town	None in town	Bonny Eagle High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.