What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgewater has the most people working from home (7.5%).

Millinocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (-8.1%).

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	Bridgewater	Millinocket
People
Population	484Lowest	3,779Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-8.1%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48.8±8Lowest 9% above ME	57.5±7.3Highest 28% above ME
	Millinocket and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.1%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%	12.1%±6.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Bridgewater and Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.5%±2.8Lowest ME: 22.4%	39.4%±8.7Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	19.4%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.3%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Millinocket and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,417±$15kHighest 12% below ME	$50,445±$11kLowest 32% below ME
	Bridgewater and Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$154,900±$78kHighest 48% below ME	$99,800±$24kLowest 66% below ME
	Bridgewater and Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$768±$116Highest 33% below ME	$451±$130Lowest 60% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,417Lowest 53% below ME	$1,538Highest 49% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.9%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4%	20.5%±11Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Bridgewater and Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12%Lowest ME: 10.7%	18.7%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	83.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 6 yrs older than ME	1956Lowest 21 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 10% below ME	21 minLowest 14% below ME
Work from home	7.5%±5.1Highest ME: 15.9%	1.7%±3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Bridgewater and Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#98 of 133 in ME
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.