Compare towns
Solon vs Limestone vs Prospect vs Monroe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Solon has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
Limestone has the most affordable homes ($98k median).
Prospect has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
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 | Solon | Limestone | Prospect | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 963 |
1,579Highest |
923Lowest |
1,001 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1% ME: +2.6% |
-34.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.6% ME: +2.6% |
+4.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4Highest about the ME average |
45.3±4.9 about the ME average |
45.2±7.5 about the ME average |
43.5±7Lowest about the ME average |
| Solon and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
25.2%±10.7Highest 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+ | 23.9%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
19.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5 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+ | 25% ME: 36.2% |
20.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.3% ME: 36.2% |
29.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
9.5%±4.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Limestone and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
$49,938±$8kLowest 33% below ME |
$81,250±$17k 9% above ME |
$81,300±$7kHighest 9% above ME |
| Monroe and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
$98,400±$18kLowest 67% below ME |
$196,500±$19k 34% below ME |
$220,300±$57kHighest 26% below ME |
| Monroe and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $915±$100 20% below ME |
$754±$233Lowest 34% below ME |
$1,107±$61 about the ME average |
$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 | $1,854 39% below ME |
$1,332Lowest 56% below ME |
$1,979 35% below ME |
$2,207Highest 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
32%±12.4 ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±42 ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Monroe and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% ME: 10.7% |
16.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% ME: 74.3% |
61.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
33 min 34% above ME |
32 min 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±5.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Limestone and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics · Limestone Public Schools | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | None in town | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— | — |
| 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.