Compare towns
Monroe vs Unity vs Solon vs Winterport
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Solon has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Winterport has the most expensive homes ($283k median).
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 | Solon | Winterport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,001 |
1,858 |
963Lowest |
3,850Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.5±7 about the ME average |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
45.9±5.4Highest about the ME average |
42.3±5.5 6% 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% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
18%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe and Winterport 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% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
19%±4.8 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% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
39.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±4.9 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
7.5%±3.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,300±$7k 9% above ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
$98,333±$21kHighest 32% above ME |
| Winterport and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $220,300±$57k 26% below ME |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$183,600±$12kLowest 38% below ME |
$283,000±$43kHighest 5% below ME |
| Winterport and Monroe 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±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$915±$100 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 | $2,207 27% below ME |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$1,854Lowest 39% below ME |
$2,646Highest 13% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±47.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
26.8%±25.4 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% ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
5.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
91%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 28% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.4%±6 ME: 15.9% |
| Unity 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 | — | — | — | #53 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.