Compare towns

Monroe vs Wayne 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%).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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.

MeasureMonroeWayneSolon
People
Population
1,001
1,101Highest
963Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.6%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-5%
ME: +2.6%
-7.1%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
43.5±7Lowest
about the ME average
55.6±5.3Highest
24% above ME
45.9±5.4
about the ME average
Wayne 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%
13.4%±3.9Lowest
ME: 18.1%
17.2%±4.6
ME: 18.1%
Monroe and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.6%±4.5Lowest
ME: 22.4%
29.2%±3.8Highest
ME: 22.4%
23.9%±3.6
ME: 22.4%
Wayne and Solon 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%
48.8%Highest
ME: 36.2%
25%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±4.9
ME: 5.8%
6.5%±2.8Highest
ME: 5.8%
1.3%±1.5Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Wayne 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±$7k
9% above ME
$93,194±$26kHighest
25% above ME
$69,205±$20kLowest
7% below ME
Wayne 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
$362,800±$29kHighest
22% above ME
$183,600±$12kLowest
38% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,165±$152Highest
about the ME average
$983±$554
14% below ME
$915±$100Lowest
20% below ME
Monroe and Wayne 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
$3,289Highest
8% above ME
$1,854Lowest
39% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.9%±47.8Highest
ME: 48.4%
25%±52.1
ME: 48.4%
14.6%±48.8Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Monroe and Wayne 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%
7.9%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
10.7%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.4%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
89.9%Highest
ME: 74.3%
88.6%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1992Highest
15 yrs newer than ME
1980
3 yrs newer than ME
1978Lowest
1 yr newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
28% above ME
30 minLowest
24% above ME
52 minHighest
113% above ME
Work from home
11.8%±4.4
ME: 15.9%
26.2%±11.7Highest
ME: 15.9%
9.1%±4.7Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Wayne 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 38 RSU 74/MSAD 74
High school in town None 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.