What stands out worked out from the figures below

Standish has the most people working from home (13.6%).

Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Standish	Monroe
People
Population	10,662Highest	786Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.5±2.8Lowest 4% above U.S.	51±10.4Highest 31% above U.S.
	Monroe and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Monroe and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.3%±8.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,593±$15kHighest 30% above U.S.	$88,150±$7kLowest 9% above U.S.
	Standish and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$336,000±$18kHighest about the U.S. average	$312,700±$58kLowest 6% below U.S.
	Standish and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S.	$1,104±$218Highest 22% below U.S.
	Monroe and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,005Highest 4% below U.S.	$2,661Lowest 15% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.4%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	48%±39Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Standish and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	88.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.	27 minLowest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	13.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#18 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 06/MSAD 06	Monroe School District
High school in town	Bonny Eagle High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.