Compare towns
Monroe vs Unity vs Frankfort
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).
Unity has the youngest population (median age 27.5).
Frankfort has the oldest population (median age 50.2).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Frankfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,001Lowest |
1,858Highest |
1,098 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.5±7 about the ME average |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
50.2±5.8Highest 12% above ME |
| Frankfort 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% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.8%±3.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe and Frankfort 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% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Monroe and Frankfort 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% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±4.9 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,300±$7kHighest 9% above ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$80,000±$26k 7% above ME |
| Monroe and Frankfort 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 |
$206,900±$28kLowest 30% below ME |
$211,300±$60k 29% below ME |
| Monroe and Frankfort 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 |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$850±$299Lowest 25% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,207 27% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,926Lowest 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±47.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
0%±88Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Monroe and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
16.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 28% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
32 minHighest 31% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.7%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Unity 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 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— |
| 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.