Compare towns
Monroe vs Temple 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Temple has the most kids (32.8% under 18).
Solon has the most affordable homes ($184k 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.
| Measure | Monroe | Temple | Solon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,001Highest |
824Lowest |
963 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.5±7 about the ME average |
34±14Lowest 24% below ME |
45.9±5.4Highest about the ME average |
| 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%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
32.8%±7.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Temple 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% |
15%±6.3Lowest 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% |
13.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe and Temple 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 |
$56,087±$2kLowest 25% 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 |
$210,200±$79k 29% below ME |
$183,600±$12kLowest 38% below ME |
| Monroe and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$152 about the ME average |
$1,458±$565Highest 28% above ME |
$915±$100Lowest 20% below ME |
| Temple and Monroe 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 |
$2,367Highest 22% below ME |
$1,854Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
73.3%±70.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Temple 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% |
10.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 28% above ME |
34 min 37% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.8%±4.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±8.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Monroe and Solon 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.