Compare towns
Solon vs Sullivan 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 most affordable homes ($184k median).
Sullivan has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Sullivan | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 963Lowest |
1,246Highest |
1,001 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.4% ME: +2.6% |
+4.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
47.1±15Highest 5% above ME |
43.5±7Lowest about the ME average |
| Sullivan and Solon 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% |
18%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe and Sullivan 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% |
22.5%±2.9Lowest 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
29.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe and Sullivan 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 |
$59,643±$14kLowest 20% below ME |
$81,300±$7kHighest 9% above ME |
| Monroe and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,600±$12kLowest 38% below ME |
$222,000±$33kHighest 25% below ME |
$220,300±$57k 26% below ME |
| Sullivan and Monroe 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 |
$883±$114Lowest 22% 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 | $1,854Lowest 39% below ME |
$2,228Highest 27% below ME |
$2,207 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
34.9%±23.6 ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Monroe and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
32 min 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±7.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Sullivan 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 | RSU 24 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | None in town | Sumner Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.5 |
— |
| 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.