Compare towns

Prospect vs Belgrade vs Monroe

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Prospect has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Belgrade has the most people working from home (20.4%).
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.

MeasureProspectBelgradeMonroe
People
Population
923Lowest
3,351Highest
1,001
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.6%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+1.9%
ME: +2.6%
+4.6%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
45.2±7.5
about the ME average
47.3±14.6Highest
6% above ME
43.5±7Lowest
about the ME average
Belgrade and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
25.2%±10.7Highest
ME: 18.1%
22.6%±6.9Lowest
ME: 18.1%
23.7%±5.1
ME: 18.1%
Prospect and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.8%±1.7Lowest
ME: 22.4%
23.9%±6.4Highest
ME: 22.4%
22.6%±4.5
ME: 22.4%
Belgrade and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.3%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
49.1%Highest
ME: 36.2%
29.1%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.6%±1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
5.7%±3.2Highest
ME: 5.8%
5.3%±4.9
ME: 5.8%
Belgrade and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$81,250±$17kLowest
9% above ME
$88,338±$13kHighest
18% above ME
$81,300±$7k
9% above ME
Belgrade and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$196,500±$19kLowest
34% below ME
$312,200±$44kHighest
5% above ME
$220,300±$57k
26% below ME
Belgrade and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,107±$61
about the ME average
$857±$108Lowest
25% below ME
$1,165±$152Highest
about the ME average
Monroe and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,979Lowest
35% below ME
$2,859Highest
6% below ME
$2,207
27% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.3%±42
ME: 48.4%
17.2%±35.9Lowest
ME: 48.4%
50.9%±47.8Highest
ME: 48.4%
Monroe and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.3%
ME: 10.7%
3.1%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
11.3%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.8%
ME: 74.3%
93.8%Highest
ME: 74.3%
87.4%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1998Highest
21 yrs newer than ME
1985Lowest
8 yrs newer than ME
1992
15 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
34% above ME
23 minLowest
7% below ME
32 min
28% above ME
Work from home
6.2%±3.3Lowest
ME: 15.9%
20.4%±8.6Highest
ME: 15.9%
11.8%±4.4
ME: 15.9%
Belgrade 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 — #71 of 133 in ME —
School district — RSU 18 RSU 03/MSAD 03
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.