Compare towns
Chesterville vs Milo vs New Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chesterville has the most kids (31.3% under 18).
Milo has the most affordable homes ($97k median).
New Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Chesterville | Milo | New Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,397Lowest |
2,165Highest |
1,550 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% ME: +2.6% |
-3.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.8±4Lowest 16% below ME |
43.9±7Highest about the ME average |
43.9±8.9Highest about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 31.3%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.8%±4.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 15%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.2%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
23.8%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| New Sharon and Milo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.8% ME: 36.2% |
29.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Milo and New Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,635±$10k 18% below ME |
$56,875±$9kLowest 24% below ME |
$63,889±$21kHighest 15% below ME |
| New Sharon and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $214,000±$40kHighest 28% below ME |
$97,100±$27kLowest 67% below ME |
$171,200±$21k 42% below ME |
| Chesterville and New Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,088±$73Highest 4% below ME |
$879±$400Lowest 23% below ME |
$961±$55 16% below ME |
| Chesterville and New Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,194Highest 28% below ME |
$1,450Lowest 52% below ME |
$1,889 38% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.8%±30.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
48.8%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
61%±38Highest ME: 48.4% |
| New Sharon and Milo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12% ME: 10.7% |
16.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.4% ME: 74.3% |
67.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr newer than ME |
1978Highest 1 yr newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
42 minHighest 70% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
3.2%±2.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.7%±2.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| New Sharon and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 41/MSAD 41 | RSU 09 |
| High school in town | — | Penquis Valley Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5 |
— |
| 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.