Compare towns
Searsmont vs Appleton vs Monroe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Searsmont has the most people working from home (16.3%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Monroe has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Searsmont | Appleton | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,646Highest |
1,360 |
1,001Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.5±9.8 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
43.5±7Lowest about the ME average |
| Appleton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 21%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Searsmont and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,000±$20kHighest 16% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$81,300±$7k 9% above ME |
| Searsmont and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,000±$31kHighest 4% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$220,300±$57kLowest 26% below ME |
| Searsmont and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $940±$311Lowest 17% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,165±$152Highest about the ME average |
| Monroe and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,788 8% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,207Lowest 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±41.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
11.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
30 min 23% above ME |
32 minHighest 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.3%±10.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Searsmont and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 71 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.