diff --git a/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp b/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp
index e5646dace..696c4c435 100644
--- a/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp
+++ b/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp
@@ -1143,21 +1143,15 @@ exit:
     return error;
 }
 
-bool MleRouter::IsSingleton(void)
+bool MleRouter::IsSingleton(void) const
 {
-    bool rval = true;
+    bool isSingleton = true;
 
-    if (IsAttached() && IsRouterEligible())
-    {
-        // not a singleton if any other routers exist
-        if (mRouterTable.GetActiveRouterCount() > 1)
-        {
-            ExitNow(rval = false);
-        }
-    }
+    VerifyOrExit(IsAttached() && IsRouterEligible());
+    isSingleton = (mRouterTable.GetActiveRouterCount() <= 1);
 
 exit:
-    return rval;
+    return isSingleton;
 }
 
 int MleRouter::ComparePartitions(bool              aSingletonA,
@@ -1180,30 +1174,6 @@ exit:
     return rval;
 }
 
-bool MleRouter::IsSingleton(const RouteTlv &aRouteTlv)
-{
-    bool    rval  = true;
-    uint8_t count = 0;
-
-    // REEDs do not include a Route TLV and indicate not a singleton
-    if (!aRouteTlv.IsValid())
-    {
-        ExitNow(rval = false);
-    }
-
-    // Check if 2 or more active routers
-    for (uint8_t routerId = 0; routerId <= kMaxRouterId; routerId++)
-    {
-        if (aRouteTlv.IsRouterIdSet(routerId) && (++count >= 2))
-        {
-            ExitNow(rval = false);
-        }
-    }
-
-exit:
-    return rval;
-}
-
 Error MleRouter::HandleAdvertisement(RxInfo &aRxInfo)
 {
     Error                 error      = kErrorNone;
@@ -1258,7 +1228,7 @@ Error MleRouter::HandleAdvertisement(RxInfo &aRxInfo)
             ExitNow();
         }
 
-        if (ComparePartitions(IsSingleton(routeTlv), leaderData, IsSingleton(), mLeaderData) > 0
+        if (ComparePartitions(routeTlv.IsSingleton(), leaderData, IsSingleton(), mLeaderData) > 0
 #if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_TIME_SYNC_REQUIRED
             // if time sync is required, it will only migrate to a better network which also enables time sync.
             && aRxInfo.mMessage.GetTimeSyncSeq() != OT_TIME_SYNC_INVALID_SEQ
diff --git a/src/core/thread/mle_router.hpp b/src/core/thread/mle_router.hpp
index d9f8f38dd..f3d84aef6 100644
--- a/src/core/thread/mle_router.hpp
+++ b/src/core/thread/mle_router.hpp
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ public:
      * @retval FALSE  It is a child or is not a single router in the network.
      *
      */
-    bool IsSingleton(void);
+    bool IsSingleton(void) const;
 
     /**
      * This method generates an Address Solicit request for a Router ID.
@@ -634,8 +634,6 @@ private:
 
     template <Uri kUri> void HandleTmf(Coap::Message &aMessage, const Ip6::MessageInfo &aMessageInfo);
 
-    static bool IsSingleton(const RouteTlv &aRouteTlv);
-
     void HandlePartitionChange(void);
 
     void SetChildStateToValid(Child &aChild);
diff --git a/src/core/thread/mle_tlvs.hpp b/src/core/thread/mle_tlvs.hpp
index 6e86146aa..1970df397 100644
--- a/src/core/thread/mle_tlvs.hpp
+++ b/src/core/thread/mle_tlvs.hpp
@@ -308,6 +308,15 @@ public:
      */
     bool IsRouterIdSet(uint8_t aRouterId) const { return mRouterIdMask.Contains(aRouterId); }
 
+    /**
+     * This method indicates whether the `RouteTlv` is a singleton, i.e., only one router is allocated.
+     *
+     * @retval TRUE   It is a singleton.
+     * @retval FALSE  It is not a singleton.
+     *
+     */
+    bool IsSingleton(void) const { return IsValid() && (mRouterIdMask.GetNumberOfAllocatedIds() <= 1); }
+
     /**
      * This method returns the Route Data Length value.
      *
@@ -459,6 +468,15 @@ public:
      */
     bool IsRouterIdSet(uint8_t aRouterId) const { return mRouterIdMask.Contains(aRouterId); }
 
+    /**
+     * This method indicates whether the `RouteTlv` is a singleton, i.e., only one router is allocated.
+     *
+     * @retval TRUE   It is a singleton.
+     * @retval FALSE  It is not a singleton.
+     *
+     */
+    bool IsSingleton(void) const { return IsValid() && (mRouterIdMask.GetNumberOfAllocatedIds() <= 1); }
+
     /**
      * This method sets the Router ID bit.
      *