Compare towns
Brookfield vs Millinocket vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Millinocket has the most affordable homes ($104k median).
Wakefield has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Brookfield | Millinocket | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567Lowest |
4,115 |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.1±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
54.2±6.2 39% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.1%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 38.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
36.2%±8.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,406±$31k about the U.S. average |
$51,007±$9kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$100,976±$11kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,000±$61kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$103,800±$26kLowest 69% below U.S. |
$322,800±$43k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $451±$130Lowest 68% below U.S. |
$1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,926Highest 90% above U.S. |
$1,580Lowest 49% below U.S. |
$2,954 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 20.5%±11Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Millinocket and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield and Brookfield 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 | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Millinocket Public Schools | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | — | Stearns Jr-Sr High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.