Compare towns
Perry vs Cherryfield vs Solon vs Monroe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Perry has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Cherryfield has the oldest population (median age 58.1).
Solon has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
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 | Perry | Cherryfield | Solon | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 744Lowest |
809 |
963 |
1,001Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.8% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1% ME: +2.6% |
+4.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±11.4 about the ME average |
58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
43.5±7Lowest about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Perry and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21%±6.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32.4%±9.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Cherryfield and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
29.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,056±$4kHighest 10% above ME |
$37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
$81,300±$7k 9% above ME |
| Perry and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,400±$13k 34% below ME |
$195,800±$53k 34% below ME |
$183,600±$12kLowest 38% below ME |
$220,300±$57kHighest 26% below ME |
| Monroe and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $428±$107Lowest 62% below ME |
$915±$100 20% below ME |
$1,165±$152Highest about the ME average |
| Monroe and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,132Highest 3% above ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
$1,854Lowest 39% below ME |
$2,207 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Cherryfield and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
26.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 13 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 6% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
32 min 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 23.4%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±10.4 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Perry and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Perry Public Schools | Cherryfield Public Schools | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.