Compare towns
Clifton vs Smithfield vs Milbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Clifton has the most affordable homes ($203k median).
Smithfield has the highest household income ($108k).
Milbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
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 | Clifton | Smithfield | Milbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,111 |
856Lowest |
1,222Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.8% ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.7±7.1 18% above ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
50.3±6.2Lowest 12% above ME |
| Smithfield and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±7.1 ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.5%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Milbridge and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±7.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
30.2%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Milbridge and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.6%±8.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Clifton and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,313±$16k 6% below ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$60,536±$16kLowest 19% below ME |
| Smithfield and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $202,500±$67kLowest 32% below ME |
$242,800±$15kHighest 18% below ME |
$240,400±$31k 19% below ME |
| Smithfield and Milbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$624Highest 7% above ME |
$1,109±$358 about the ME average |
$619±$186Lowest 46% below ME |
| Clifton and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,838Lowest 39% below ME |
$2,866Highest 6% below ME |
$2,022 33% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 81.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.8%±22.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Clifton and Milbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 19% above ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
18 minLowest 26% below ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield and Milbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | RSU 37/MSAD 37 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.